Shades of Nature on the Road

A chameleon-like shade of yellow-green is an automotive coating provider’s color of the year.

Pittsburgh-based PPG announced the color this week at its global automotive coatings styling center in Shanghai, China, where it also publicized collaborations with three Chinese automakers. 

The “Secret Safari” color is a nuanced yellowish green with organic undertones that reflect botanical hues, the company said. 

PPG assembled a worldwide team of color specialists to research trends in architecture, design, consumer choices and material innovation, arriving at the nature-like shade.

“It evokes a sense of calm in natural daylight and reveals layered depth in shadowed or low-light settings,” said the company’s color category lead, Irina Hanhisalo.

PPG said Secret Safari, which for many American consumers will bring to mind the Beach Boys’ “Surfin’ Safari” song, looks good on both off-road models and sports cars. 

Its shape-shifting quality makes it an ideal color for car bodies and trim, according to PPG, “aligning with the industry’s move toward multi-dimensional, experimental finishes” and in line with the “multifaceted lifestyles of today’s drivers.”

At the Shanghai event, PPG also announced Chinese automaker partnerships: a joint color-creation lab with Chery, development of the custom “Argyle Purple” shade for BYD’s luxury electric-vehicle brand, Yangwang, and a collaboration with Xiaomi to design 100 colors in the next three years.

“By combining our global forecasting expertise with localized insights, we are helping automakers create designs that resonate with consumers and define the future of mobility,” said PPG Senior Styling Manager, Asia Pacific, Automotive OEM Coatings Cindy Li.

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