After seven years as the most popular colour for a car, silver has been replaced by white/white pearl.

The DuPont 2007 Global Automotive Colour Popularity Report shows that white/white pearl, silver and black/black effect are in a virtual tie for first place, with white/white pearl narrowly taking the top spot in North America.

White also overcame silver in Japan and is the decisive leader in Mexico.

The US-based DuPont group supplies vehicles coatings to vehicle manufacturers. DuPont produced the paint for Henry Ford’s first automobile.

The company has tracked colour statistics for more than 55 years, and reports converging trends in colour preference.

This year, DuPont sees white/white pearl as a trend-shifting colour, and anticipates that new black metallic and other colour effects will show an increase in popularity over time.

White/white pearl remain an important colour for trucks and sports-utility vehicles - a trend which is also represented in the growth of white/white pearl among luxury buyers and other segments.

It’s not a complete white-wash, though, with red also continuing to gain ground.

The popularity of red globally has been growing significantly, with a two per cent increase overall.

“Our customers are looking at niche colours and effects, including matte finishes and warm neutrals with effect,” says DuPont Automotive Systems colour marketing and technology manager Karen Surcina.

“The rise in popularity of white/white pearl and the long reign of silver suggest that we can expect a more dramatic shift in the top colour choice.

“Red, in particular, is a popular choice with people who want to express a level of individuality with their vehicles,” she notes.

“We see the growth of vibrant colours - red and orange - as an option for those interested in mass customization - the chance to personalize a mass-produced object.”

Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone colour Institute and author of Colour: Messages and Meanings, says the proliferation of white/white pearl in DuPont’s report is not surprising.

“It follows the global trends in home furnishings, fashion, consumer products and industrial design, where we’re seeing a return to white as a clarifying agent before change, a colour of purity and minimalism.

“White also is considered a fashion statement. The car you drive is a fashion statement, and consumer preferences for white agree. White pearl itself is a combination of many colours, allowing an ability to change, reflecting, in effect, layers of white.”

As in the fashion industry, coatings manufacturers present their annual “collections” of colours to automakers in a formal presentation.

The theme of last year’s DuPont colour show was “Winning with colour”.

Among the colours DuPont presented to customers were Whitney White, Gwendolyn Gray, Roger Rocket (white with a hint of blue), Remington Red, Giselle Glacier (white), Gaby Goldfish (orange) and Nemo Night (dark blue).