Colour, Materials & Finish (CMF) Survey 2025

In partnership with

[Link] 2025 1
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Colour, Materials & Finish (CMF) remains an essential emotional vocabulary by which vehicle designers, and in particular vehicle interior design
departments, express their individual brand identity, differentiate themselves from the competition, and appeal to their target consumer base.

The Car Design News Colour, Material & Finish (CMF) Survey 2025 has established itself as an annual litmus test for CMF within car design, but
also casts a critical eye towards the future of car design, imparting authoritative expert insight, whilst also giving back to the car design community.

Colour trends -
• Earthy tones were the dominant colour trend for vehicle interiors
• Achromatic hues led the exterior colour trend, but results were more evenly balanced
• There were distinctly different colour preferences across the vehicle segments
• There were clear exterior colour palette preferences across the different regions
Material trends -
• Bio-based materials and Synthetics dominated interior materials
• Sustainability & Integrated technology dominated materials innovation
Finish trends -
• Smart surfaces dominated vehicle interior finish trends
• There were notably different exterior finish preferences across the regions
Cultural and consumer influences -
• A range of different societal trends are influencing CMF choices by region
• There are clearcut generational differences within interior preferences
• Differing aspects of CMF are being prioritised according to vehicle segment

In partnership with

[Link] 2025 2
COLOUR TRENDS - GLOBAL
Q1. For vehicle INTERIORS, what will be the main COLOUR trends in 2025?
Earthy tones the dominant colour
trend for vehicle interiors
For vehicle interiors, the dominant
Earthy tones colour trend according to survey
participants was clearly Earthy tones
with (40%) reporting it in first place.
Achromatic hues
In a distant second place, was
Achromatic hues with (25%)
selecting it as the most important
Pastels colour trend. In third place, were
Pastels (13%), and in fourth place
was Prime colours (12%).
Prime colours
The least popular colour trend was
Colour clashes (10%).

Colour clashes

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th

In partnership with

[Link] 2025 3
COLOUR TRENDS - GLOBAL
Q2. For vehicle EXTERIORS, what COLOUR trends will be most prominent in 2025? Colour trends for vehicle exteriors
more evenly balanced
For vehicle exteriors, the relative
colour trends were noticeably
Achromatic hues different to the interiors of the
previous question, and also notably
more evenly balanced, with no
Earthy tones dominant trend.

Achromatic hues the leading

exterior colour trend
Prime colours
Nevertheless, the leading colour
trend according to survey
participants was Achromatic hues
Pastels with (30%) citing it in first place.

In 2nd place, participants selected

Colour clashes Earthy tones with (22%), closely
followed by Prime colours (21%). In
4th place were Pastels with (17%).
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% The least popular colour trend was
1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th Colour clashes with (11%) citing it as
the leading colour trend.

In partnership with

[Link] 2025 4
COLOUR TRENDS - GLOBAL Bold & vibrant hues for affordable /
budget
Q3. Which COLOUR THEMES will be most prominent in each vehicle segment? In the Affordable / budget vehicle
segment, Bold & vibrant hues (57%)
were the leading colour theme, followed
70% by Monochrome (42%), Achromatic
hues (32%), and Earthy Tones (28%).
The least popular colour theme was
60%
Metallics (26%).

50% Earthy tones in the mid-range

Earthy tones For the Mid-market vehicle segment,
40% Monochrome Earthy Tones (58%) were the leading
colour theme, followed by Achromatic
Bold & vibrant hues
hues (53%), Metallics (52%), and
30% Metallics
Monochrome (47%), In last position
Achromatic hues was Bold & vibrant hues (39%),
20% Don't know contrasting with the Affordable /
budget segment.
10%
Metallics for luxury / premium
In the Luxury / premium vehicle
0% segment the rankings were notably
Luxury / premium Mid-range Affordable / budget different. Metallics (63%) were the
leading colour theme, followed by
Earthy Tones (54%), and Achromatic
hues (51%), and Monochrome (50%).
The least popular colour theme was
In partnership with
Bold & vibrant hues (34%).
[Link] 2025 5
COLOUR TRENDS - GLOBAL Metallics for North America exteriors
In North America, the top exterior
Q4. What will be the dominant EXTERIOR COLOUR PALETTES in the following REGIONS colour palettes were Metallics (50%),
in 2025? followed by Earthy Tones (44%),
Achromatic hues (41%), and
60% Monochrome (38%).

Earthy tones for Europe exteriors

50% In Europe, the leading colour palettes
were Earthy Tones (57%), followed by
Achromatic hues (54%), Metallics
40% (44%), and Monochrome (44%), and
Earthy tones
Bold primary colours (42%).
Monochrome
30% Achromatic hues Metallics for China exteriors
Bold primary colours For China, the leading colour palette
Metallics was Metallics (56%), followed by Bold
20% primary colours (45%), Monochrome
Don't know
(37%), and Achromatic hues (36%).
The least popular colour palette was
10% Earthy Tones (25%).

Monochrome for Japan exteriors

0% For Japan, the leading colour palette
North America Europe China Japan Other was jointly in 1st place Monochrome
(37%), and Achromatic hues (37%),
and followed by Metallics , and Earthy
tones (25%).
In partnership with

[Link] 2025 6
MATERIAL TRENDS - GLOBAL
Bio-based materials and Synthetics
Q5. Which INTERIOR MATERIALS will become more PROMINENT in 2025? dominate interior materials
Moving onto material trends, three
materials dominated the survey
findings, namely Bio-based materials
Bio-based materials (e.g. mushroom leather)
(e.g. mushroom leather) (62%) and
Synthetics (plastics, recycled plastic)
Synthetics (plastic, recycled plastic)
scoring (60%), and Natural textiles
(51%).
Natural textiles
In a distant 4th place was Synthetic
Synthetic textiles textiles (30%).

Wood Beyond those leading materials, there

was an array of less prominent
Suede materials including Wood (19%), Suede
(15%), Metal (13%), and Aniline
Metal leather (12%).

Aniline leather

Other (please specify)

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70%

In partnership with

[Link] 2025 7
 MATERIAL TRENDS - GLOBAL
Q6. In which area do you expect to see MATERIALS INNOVATION? Sustainability & Integrated
technology dominate
Within the area of materials
innovation, the leading response was
Sustainability Sustainability (70%), followed by
Integrated technology
Integrated technology (touchscreens, smart surfaces, HUD) (touchscreens, smart surfaces,
HUD) (67%).

Lightweighting In third place was Lightweighting

(47%), followed in fourth place by
Aesthetics Aesthetics (39%).

Notably the least innovation was

Durability
expected with Durability (23%), and
Comfort (21%).
Comfort

Other (please specify)

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70%

In partnership with

[Link] 2025 8
FINISH TRENDS - GLOBAL Smart surfaces dominate
Progressing onto finish trends for
vehicle interiors, the major trend
Q7. For VEHICLE INTERIORS, what will be the main FINISH trends? was clearly identified as Smart
surfaces (touch responsive,
haptic feedback, light emitting)
Smart surfaces (touch responsive, haptic feedback, light (73%).
emitting)
However, in a relatively distant
joint 2nd place were a wider range
Health / wellness (e.g. anti-microbial, temperature regulating)
of equally important finish trends
including Health / wellness (e.g.
anti-microbial, temperature
Personalisation
regulating) (53%), and
Personalisation (53%).
Durability: self-healing, scratch resistant tech
This was followed by Durability
(self-healing, scratch resistant
tech) (45%), and Soft touch
Soft touch surfaces, switchgear
surfaces, switchgear (40%).

Other (please specify)

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80%

In partnership with

[Link] 2025 9
FINISH TRENDS - GLOBAL Gloss for Affordable / budget
exteriors
Q8. For VEHICLE EXTERIORS what will be the dominant FINISHES? For the Affordable / budget segment,
the leading finish trend for vehicle
80% exteriors was Gloss (51%), followed by
Retro-inspired graphics (47%),
Textured (42%), Metallics (40%), and
70%
Matt (30%). Finish trends that were less
popular in the Affordable / budget
60% segment were Pearlescent (17%), and
Textured Satin (11%).
50%
Metallics
Metallics for Mid-market exteriors
Matt Within the Mid-market segment, the
40%
Gloss most popular finish for vehicle exteriors
Satin was Metallics (64%), followed by Gloss
30% (57%), Matt (56%), Textured (49%),
Pearlescent
Retro-inspired graphics (48%), and
20%
Retro-inspired graphics Satin (45%), and Pearlescent (40%).

Satin for Luxury / premium exteriors

10%
For the Luxury / premium segment, the
dominant finishes for vehicle exteriors
0% selected were Satin (73%), followed by
Luxury / premium Mid-market Affordable / budget Pearlescent (67%). In the second tier of
results stood Matt (53%), Metallics
(47%), Textured (42%), and Gloss
In partnership with (41%).

[Link] 2025 10
CULTURAL & CONSUMER INFLUENCES - GLOBAL
North America has a balanced, wide
Q9. Which societal trends will most influence INTERIOR CMF choices by REGION? ranges of influences
Within North America, the leading
80% societal trend for interior CMF was
Wellness (41%), followed very closely by
Digitalisation (40%), Digital ‘detoxing’
70%
(34%), and Cocooning (30%).

60% Europe led by digital detoxing &

wellness
50% Wellness
For Europe, the leading interior CMF
influence was Digital ‘detoxing’ (62%),
40%
Digitalisation
followed by Wellness (53%), Cocooning
Digital ‘detoxing’ (37%), and Digitalisation (30%).
Cocooning
30%
Don't know China dominated by digitalisation
Within China, the dominant interior
20% CMF dominant influence was
Digitalisation (76%). In a distant 2nd
10% place were Cocooning (41%), followed
by Wellness (34%), and Digital
‘detoxing’ (23%).
0%
North America Europe China Japan Other
Japan has a balance of influences
For Japan, Cocooning (41%) led
followed by Wellness (34%),
Digitalisation (30%), and Digital
In partnership with
‘detoxing’ (25%).
[Link] 2025 11
 Baby boomers prioritise comfort
CULTURAL & CONSUMER INFLUENCES - GLOBAL The Baby boomers prioritised Comfort
(76%), and Traditional Materials
(71%), but little interest in Sustainable
Q10. Which aspect of INTERIORS will the different GENERATIONS prioritise in 2025? Materials (15%), and Smart Surfaces /
Tech Integration (14%).
80%
Generation X have a balance of
70% priorities
Comfort For Gen X, the priority was Comfort
60%
(55%), followed by Minimalism (49%),
Traditional materials Traditional Materials (44%),
Sustainable Materials (38%), Smart
50% Sustainable materials Surfaces / Tech Integration (35%), and
Maximalism (32%).
40% Smart surfaces / tech integration
Millennials prioritise sustainability
Minimalism (fewer materials, and smart surfaces
30%
colours etc.) For Gen Y / Millennials, there was a
Maximalism (screens, mixed strong bias towards Sustainable
20%
materials, multiple finishes etc.) Materials (67%), and Smart Surfaces /
Tech Integration (65%), whilst Comfort
Don't know
10% (34%), and Traditional Materials
(19%) scored relatively low.
0%
Baby boomer Gen X Gen Y / Millennial Gen Z
Generation Z focused on smart
surfaces and sustainability
For Gen Z, they scored highly Smart
Surfaces / Tech Integration (70%), and
In partnership with Sustainable Materials (67%).
[Link] 2025 12
CULTURAL & CONSUMER INFLUENCES - GLOBAL
Affordable / budget prioritises
Q11. Which aspect of CMF will be prioritised for each vehicle segment? minimalism
The Affordable / budget vehicle
80% segment prioritised Minimalism (52%),
followed by Sustainable Materials
(36%), Traditional Materials (35%),
70% Comfort Maximalism (32%), Comfort (27%), and
Smart Surfaces (23%).
60%
Traditional materials
Mid-market prioritises sustainability
50% Within the Mid-market vehicle segment,
Sustainable materials the leading response was Sustainable
Materials by (68%), followed by Comfort
40%
(64%), Smart Surfaces / Tech
Smart surfaces / tech
integration
Integration (59%), Maximalism (55%),
30% Minimalism (45%), and Traditional
Minimalism (fewer materials, Materials (42%).
colours etc.)
20%
Luxury / premium prioritises comfort
Maximalism (screens, mixed
& smart surfaces / tech integration
10% materials, multiple finishes
etc.) In the Luxury / premium segment, the
priority was Comfort (76%), and Smart
0% Surfaces / Tech Integration (74%). Less
Premium / luxury Mid-market Affordable / budget of a priority were Sustainable Materials
(65%), Traditional Materials (57%),
Maximalism (44%), and Minimalism
In partnership with (40%).

[Link] 2025 13
METHODOLOGY
Online survey
Promoted via a four-stage email campaign to the extensive Car
Design News audience
26,000 336
…and social media channels invitees responses
Questions designed to ensure the survey was open to as wide a
group as possible
While seeking responses only from individuals qualified to answer
Questions designed to probe into the biggest issues affecting
colour, materials and finish (CMF) in car design and therefore 1.3% 5.3%
generate meaningful insights for companies in the sector response margin of
Results analysed for significant variances by design role and region rate error

Margin of error
The margin of error on the survey results is 5.3%, at 95% confidence level. In other words, if we were to undertake the survey again, 95% of the time the
response percentages reported would be within 5.3% of the percentages reported for this survey. The desirable margin of error is <6% at above 90%
confidence, so we can consider this to be well within the desired margin of error, and therefore a robust survey with a representative audience sample.

In partnership with

[Link] 2025 14
CREDITS
Copyright © 2025 Ultima Media Ltd.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or
mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other non-commercial uses
permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, write to the publisher, at the address below.

Car Design News

Ultima Media Ltd
401 King Street
Hammersmith
London, W6 9NJ
United Kingdom

[Link]
+44 (0) 20 8987 0900

Disclaimer
All facts and figures are believed to be accurate at the time of publication; Ultima Media accepts no responsibility for inaccuracies due to future developments in the market or
incorrect information provided by Ultima Media’s sources. Ultima Media is unable to accept any legal liability for any consequential loss or damage, however caused, arising as a result
of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided in this report.

James Mclachlan Daniel Harrison

Editor Automotive Analyst
Ultima Media Ultima Media
[Link]@[Link] [Link]@[Link]

Gemma Wood
Senior Graphic Designer
Ultima Media
[Link]@[Link]

In partnership with

[Link] 2025 15