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Grey remained the most popular colour for new cars in Britain last year, but green recorded the fastest growth, according to new analysis of registration data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).
More than half a million grey cars were registered in 2025, with 558,050 hitting the road. That represents a 2.7% increase and a record total for the colour, giving it more than a quarter of the new car market with a 27.6% share.
Black held on to second place with 464,369 registrations, its highest volume since 2019, following a 9.7% year-on-year rise. Blue ranked third for the second consecutive year, with 306,349 registrations, up 4.9%. Combined, grey, black and blue accounted for nearly two-thirds of all new car registrations, representing 65.8% of the market.
White kept fourth position, while silver returned to the top five for the first time in almost a decade. Silver was once the dominant car colour in Britain during the early 2000s, and its reappearance among the top choices marks a notable comeback. Red, previously one of the UK’s staple car colours, dropped to sixth place and recorded its lowest ever market share at 5.8% since detailed records began.
Green remained in seventh place overall but saw a sharp rise in demand. Registrations climbed 46.3% to 99,793 vehicles, making 2025 the strongest year for green cars since 2004. The increase is particularly noticeable among electric vehicles. Registrations of green battery electric cars nearly doubled compared with 2024, rising 95.2% to 23,249 units, which equates to one in 20 new battery electric vehicles, compared with around one in 300 the year before. Despite that growth, grey was still the most popular choice among battery electric car buyers, with 131,984 registrations.
At the opposite end of the scale, more unusual colours remained rare. Maroon, pink and turquoise cars accounted for just 342 registrations combined, underlining continued buyer preference for more neutral and understated shades.
Mike Hawes, chief executive at the SMMT, said: “UK car buyers’ preferences remain pretty consistent, with monochrome continuing to lead in popularity. The surge in green, however, matches the growing popularity of electrified cars as the new car market decarbonises. As ever, manufacturers are responding by expanding model ranges, colours and finishes, giving UK drivers more opportunities to personalise their vehicles – even if grey matters most.”
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West Lothian EH52 5AU
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