Italian maker Fiat stops building grey cars

Italian car-maker Fiat has announced it has ended production of vehicles painted grey – even though it is one of the world’s most popular automotive colours.

The decision is said to be effective immediately – and the first new Fiat to launch without a grey paint option will be the 600e electric SUV, full details of which are due to be announced next week.

It is despite grey being the most popular car colour in the UK – and featuring on one in four new cars sold there – according to figures published by Autocar from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders in the UK.

Fiat sales dropped by 6.8 per cent globally – according to JATO Dynamics data – and 42 per cent in Australia last year compared to 2021, across its passenger and commercial-vehicle divisions.

Fiat says it wants to be “the brand of colours”, and claims it will only offer “bright colours” inspired by “the Sea of Italy, the Sun of Italy, the Earth of Italy and the Sky of Italy”.

However it will continue to offer Gelato White and Cinema Black paint – in addition to a range of reds, oranges, blues, golds and greens.

The Fiat Australia website has not been updated to reflect the deletion of grey – it continues to list available Pompei Grey paint for the 500 Dolcevita petrol hatch, and Mineral Grey for the upcoming 500e electric car.

A promotional video posted to social media by Fiat shows a new silver 600e electric SUV – with CEO Olivier Francois in the driver’s seat – being lowered into and out of a large bucket of orange paint.

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