BMW design boss: white cars are popular thanks to Apple
updated 08:57 am EDT, Tue September 4, 2012
BMW credits Apple with the popularity of white cars
BMW Designworks lead designer in color and materials, Sandy McGill, attributes the increasing popularity of white cars to the success of Apple’s white products, reports Left Lane News. McGill made her comments in relation to a recent study that shows that white-colored cars have toppled black-colored cars as the most popular choice in the U.S. According to the study, about 20 percent of new cars bought in 2011 were white, the indirect result of iconic Apple products including the white iPhone, iPods and iPads.
“Prior to Apple, white was associated with things like refrigerators or the tiles in your bathroom. Apple made white valuable,” explains McGill.
However, black and gray colors remain the most popular colors in other parts of the world including Europe, although silver and white have become the most popular color choice for buyers in Asian markets – though no similar studies have been conducted yet that could link Apple to this trend there. Samsung, however, is also popular in Asia and has mimiced Apple’s white and black offerings, which could also explain any correlation.
Despite the recent trend towards white as the color of choice for cars, McGill and other style leads believe that blue, orange and brown are primed to take over, particularly at the high-end. Perhaps reflecting this research, Samsung, which already ships a Marble Blue Galaxy S III, also recently unveiled an Amber Brown variant of the Galaxy S III as well.
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I disagree. White cars have always had higher resale value than any other color (all other things being equal.) Because white hides minor surface scratches the best.
Having said that, Apple has set the tone for computer and consumer electronics device colors from the original Bondi blue iMac to today's MacBook Air ripoffs from the Wintel PC manufacturers.