Every family in the country might own or might have owned a white coloured car at least once in the past. Even as we continue to understand this phenomenon, few automakers might have already sold a few hundred in white. What is it that makes people buy white cars - Is it superstitious beliefs, safety or the climate? As we continue to wonder, we can’t deny the fact that white cars do have a class and feel of their own. Especially in India, where owning a white car denotes a higher social stature, while simultaneously giving an impression that only the elite will be able to take care of it.
Visual appeal
Though cars have now emerged as a necessity more than luxury, it seems that the old trend of buying a white car continues amongst the new generation of car buyers as well. The image of ministers, politicians and bureaucrats zipping through the roads in white cars, sirens screaming, is permanently etched in our minds. Does it, therefore, come as a surprise that a white colour car is still seen as a status symbol which commands respect and attention effortlessly? Maintaining it could get a little difficult given the harsh climate in India, but that does not deter buyers from seeking the ‘premium quotient’ this shade brings. Given the demand, there are also certain automakers who will charge a premium price for white coloured cars, which further massages the buyer’s ego. That said, there are also buyers who will buy it simply because no other colour option suited the vehicle as much as the white one – like the pearly white body of an Audi A4.
More resale value
Ok, so this is also something which has emerged out of our love for white coloured cars. Psychologically speaking, white is associated with honesty and purity. If your car is white, it implies that you have taste and elegance and strive for perfection. Yet sometimes you find yourself longing for a more simple life. If we had to read a customer’s mind, his/her mind sees the white car as a way to present a fresh, young, modern face to the outside world. The best example in this context will be our obsession for white Apple products rather than the black one. With so much running through our mind, it is obvious that interested buyers will be willing to spend a little extra for a white car as compared to a similar model which might be offered in a different shade.
Safety and facts
Global reports show that over 35 per cent of total car buyers in Asia, Africa, Europe, America and South America have opted for a white car, while black has plateaued much lower down the ladder at 18 per cent followed by silver and grey at 13 percent and 10 per cent respectively. Given India’s strong cultural and ethnic background, the white coloured cars have always been people’s first choice, while black merely managed to find a handful of interested buyers. Research conducted by Monash University Accident Research Center in Australia shows that black cars have a 12% higher crash risk compared to white during the day and a 47% higher rate at dawn and dusk. Drivers from countries with warm weather like ours have also observed that lighter coloured cars absorb less heat as compared to darker ones, thereby making driving a bit more comfortable. Supporting claims, and reports indicate that white cars tend to stay at least 18 degrees cooler than black cars when parked in the sun all day long.
Conclusion
Car colours are purely a matter of personal choice and taste. White may not appeal to some of us, but it is clearly a favourite among a vast majority of car buyers. It is also an undeniable fact that we would love to drive a white coloured car purely for its premium quotient even though we might not be keen on owning one. Given its high social value and also an important colour from safety perspective, white coloured cars will continue to ply on global roads for many more years to come.
