Red cars, once the most popular choice in the UK, could become a rarity by 2037. In 1997, one in four cars sported the vibrant hue, but numbers have been on a steady decline, according to an analysis by AA Cars.
From 1997 to 2014, the proportion of new red cars sold plummeted from 26% to just 13%. And according to the latest data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) the trend is persisting, with red now chosen for just 7.5% of new cars, placing it second to last on the preference list.
Meanwhile, grey cars have seen a surge in popularity over the same period, almost doubling from 14% to 27% between 2014 and 2023. Grey is now the top pick for new cars, followed by black, which is chosen by one in five new owners.
Previously popular white and silver cars are also seeing a decline. White has dropped from 22% to 17%, while silver has fallen from 13% to 7%.
However used car buyers seem to prefer black, with the darkest shade accounting for 27% of searches on the AA Cars site. White came in second at 23%, while grey was third at 18%, reports Lancs Live.
Searches for used red cars remain steady at 6%, suggesting that red cars are even less popular in the used market than for new vehicles.
James Hosking, Director of AA Cars, commented: “Drivers of a certain age will fondly remember a time when nearly every other car on the road seemed to be red, but those days are long past. The rising popularity of monochrome and grey cars has the potential to make our roads far less colourful.”
He further added, “Without red cars we would never have enjoyed Postman Pat’s van, the red Mini Coopers from the Italian job and Lightning McQueen from Cars. Tastes can change, and there’s still a significant number of people searching for red cars on the AA Cars site, so we’re hopeful that a wave of nostalgia could save red cars from going the way of turquoise or maroon.”