The vast majority of drivers are in a car with the wrong colour for their personality. That’s the surprise finding of a pan-European study by Nissan, which reveals a staggering 86% of those polled made an incorrect choice in the showroom.
The research found that even though there are now more vibrant exterior colours and personalisation options than ever before, car buyers are still too conservative when it comes to picking paint.
Nissan carried out the study to celebrate the personalisation options on the all-new Micra hatchback. It found approximately a third of those surveyed should have opted for more striking shades like orange instead of traditional grey and black, based on their personality type.
To help consumers, Nissan has turned to technology and developed an innovative Chatbot in conjunction with acclaimed colour psychologist Karen Haller. Delivered via Facebook, it determines the user’s personality and presents the perfect Micra colour match for them. Click here to take the test.
Both the research and Chatbot were developed using Karen’s expertise in the field of colour psychology. With more than 20 years’ experience, she has worked with many global brands to understand the colour choices consumers make.
The all-new Nissan Micra is a car that’s perfect for consumers seeking to express bold colour choices. It’s available in 10 bold exterior colours, including the vibrant Energy Orange and Pulse Green. The personalisation program allows contrasting shades for the bumpers, doors, wheels and door mirrors. In addition, elements of the seat, door trim and dashboard can undergo modifications with interior personalisation.
On sale since March this year, approximately 22% of Micra customers are personalising their car – more than originally forecast
Affordability has been key to demand, with customers spending on average just €400 to get the design with personalisation they want.
For the research, specialists devised bespoke questions to quantify an individual’s personality through analysis of their behaviour and preferences. This technique is common to indicate a person’s primary personality, for example, as part of the screening process during job interviews.
The findings include:
- 86% have chosen the wrong-coloured car for their personality type
- Approximately two-thirds went for more traditional / conservative colours
- 38% are currently driving a grey or black vehicle
- 53% claimed colour had impacted their vehicle choice
- Of those, more than half claimed to have selected their favourite colour
Based on the 5,000 responses across Europe, high-energy colours such as orange should top the table. These signify energetic, fun and optimistic traits within someone’s personality.
Karen commented: “Social factors come into play with colour choice. For example, in times of economic uncertainty, it’s common for people to play it safe and pick a car with a neutral palette – such as black, white or grey.”
“Often colour choices are based around aspirations. And black is often seen as an aspirational colour, associated with high-end technologies and innovative brands. It may be that far from playing it safe, they are choosing what they perceive as the finer things in life.”
Human response to colour goes right back to early childhood
Symbolism or an association do not always determine it, but inner ‘hard wiring’ over which we have no control.
People react to colour in different ways. And with psychometric analysis an expert such as Karen Haller can understand the relationship between personality types and colour association.
Priyanka Gaitonde, a Senior Colour Designer at Nissan Design Europe, commented:
“The design priority for the all-new Nissan Micra from the very beginning was to put the customer at the heart of the vehicle. The new Chatbot is an innovative way of extending what we set out to do in the design studio. To guide customers on the colours most suitable to them.”
