White Is Most Popular Color – Again – in 56th DuPont Automotive Color Popularity Report
 
The 2008 DuPont Automotive Color Popularity Report says white is the top vehicle color choice in North America for the second straight year, and is a strong player globally, with “white effects” allowing consumers to differentiate cars subtly to express their individuality. Black and silver with effects also turned in a strong performance globally. The term “effects” refers to special pigments that lend a pearl or iridescent appearance to coatings.
 
White and white pearl scored 16 and 4 percent, respectively, black and black effect scored 11 percent and 6 percent, while silver, which led the pack for six consecutive years, garnered a 17 percent share of the North American market.
 
A leading supplier of coatings to the global automotive market both for new cars and in the collision repair industry, DuPont this year broadened the global scope of the authoritative Automotive Color Popularity Report to include specific data from emerging markets India and Russia. The automotive industry is expanding rapidly in both countries.
 
North American color choice highlights several trends. First, there is a continuing convergence of color choice globally with color preferences becoming more homogeneous across the globe. Additionally, DuPont continues to report white as a “palette cleansing” color signaling a pause after a long running trend and in advance of a new trend. The 2007 DuPont Automotive Color Popularity Report announced the end of silver’s seven-year reign.  
 
Global Convergence and Regional Differentiation
 
The global review of color popularity reveals that preferences are converging around the world, but within the convergence there is subtle differentiation between markets. As DuPont reported in June 2008, blue is becoming more popular and currently ranks among consumers in North America with 13 percent of the overall market. Blue has garnered 12 to 13 percent of the market for the past few years and is a top five color choice in every market with the exception of Brazil. 
 
Europe
 
Europe is dominated by the popularity of black vehicles in all segments. Black with effect, white/white pearl and silver are most popular across the board with a rise in bright reds in this year’s report. The rankings remain consistent for black/black effect with 26 percent of the market, silver with 20 percent and gray with 18 percent. 
 
White/white pearl saw a slight increase in popularity, rising from 8 percent last year to 10 percent in 2008. The warm neutral tones of beige and brown regained popularity in 2008, reaching 4 percent – up from 2 percent last year.
 
Russia
 
Russian color preference shows an overwhelming use of silver at 30 percent, black and red at 14 percent and slight differences between green (13 percent), blue (12 percent) and white (10 percent). Though Russia leans toward the silver and black color spaces, red and green are more popular there than in any other region, demonstrating the diversity of color trends.
 
Asia
 
India’s market shows a strong preference toward white and white pearl with 17 and 11 percent respectively, followed by silver with 27 percent. As in Russia, strong chroma colors made a good showing with red at 12 percent and blue at 8 percent. Black and black effect with 6 percent and 1 percent, respectively, was even with yellow and gold at 7 percent.
 
Silver remains exceptionally strong in the Asian countries of China, South Korea, Japan and India. In South Korea, silver represents 50 percent of the market, up from 39 percent last year. Silver is top color with strong growth shown in China, as well at 32 percent for 2008, up from 23 percent in 2007. Japan and India report white/white pearl in the top color position (8 and 24 percent and 17 and 11 percent, respectively) with silver making a strong showing with 28 percent in Japan and 27 percent in India. 
 
Mexico and Brazil
 
White and black are tied for the most popular color in Mexico at 20 percent each, with silver at 17 percent and gray at 13 percent. Following these cool-neutral shades, blue shows strength with 12 percent and red follows at 11 percent. Neutral spaces dominate Brazil with silver (31 percent), black (25 percent), gray (16 percent) and white (11 percent). Red is the most popular chroma color with 8 percent of the market. 

10/7/08


PPG Completes Divestiture of Auto Glass Business

PPG Industries has completed its divestiture of its automotive glass and services business to a new company formed by funds managed by Kohlberg & Company LLC in Mount Kisco, N.Y. The new company has been named Pittsburgh Glass Works LLC.

PPG received approximately $270 million in net proceeds from the transaction, which included customary closing adjustments. In addition, PPG will hold a minority ownership interest of approximately 40 percent in Pittsburgh Glass Works LLC.

The automotive glass and services business supplies automotive OEM windshields, rear and side windows, sunroofs and assemblies for auto and truck manufacturers, and it supplies and distributes replacement automotive glass products for use in the aftermarket. It also provides insurance claim services through its LYNX Services subsidiary, glass management software through its GTS subsidiary and e-business solutions through its GLAXIS division.

Source: aftermarketNews.com, Oct. 2, 2008

9/30/08


PBES to Present Technology Seminar at NACE

The Paint, Body and Equipment Specialists (PBES) will present a technology seminar at the International Autobody Congress & Exposition (NACE) in Las Vegas, Nev., entitled, “Increasing Jobber Operational Efficiency Through Technology.” The session will be held Wednesday, Nov. 5, 1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m., at Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Islander D.

The seminar will feature a panel of PBE distributors who will share information and insights regarding technology projects that have improved labor efficiency and/or reduced operational costs.

“Given present economic conditions, this is a timely opportunity for jobber distributors to learn from their peers how they can increase operational efficiency through the use of technology,” said moderator Christian Hassold, COO, PBE Solutions.

Hassold has more than 12 years of experience in the technology sector, eight of which have been devoted to the automotive collision industry. In his capacity at PBE Solutions, he is responsible for operations, strategic planning and product development. Prior to joining PBE, Hassold was an employee-founder of Ensera, a claims process automation start-up purchased by Mitchell International in 2001.
 
Panelists include:

• Jay Elliot, regional manager, ColorVision Corp., PBE distributor       
  Reducing fuel costs using GPS-based routing software
• Todd D’Angelo, A. D'Angelo & Sons/Angel Warehouse, PBE distributor     
  Using VOIP technology to reduce communications costs
• Matt Johnson, Leading Edge Auto Refinishes, Inc., PBE distributor          
  Reducing labor costs and improving efficiency with wireless order placement and  inventory management solutions