White has gone from being just for vans and police cars in decades gone by to being the most popular colour choice amongst car buyers. And the dramatically increased uptake of the pale hue can be linked to the launch of the “cool and innovative” iPhone, claims vehicle leasing firm Arval.

The iconic phone was first launched in 2007 and was originally available only in white, with the first iPad arriving in 2010 – and these may have had a greater impact on the colour of technology products than previously thought, the company states.

Arval carried out a survey of 1,016 people that referenced the colour car buyers choose with a number of different personality traits. Those who buy white cars were found to be eight years younger than the average car owner, at 38-years-old, and were also the most likely group to work in a senior management position.

The number of new white cars being registered in the UK has risen significantly since the launch of the iPhone in 2007 and the iPad in 2010.

Showing the dramatic rise in the number of white cars on UK roads, Arval points out that registrations of white cars were so rare in 2004 that industry trade body the SMMT didn’t even report them separately. “However, fast forward 10 years and new white cars account for more than a fifth (22 per cent) of all new cars registered, more than for any other car colour.”

Arval continued: “The number of new white cars being registered in the UK has risen significantly since the launch of the iPhone in 2007 and the iPad in 2010.”

Marketing and insurance director for the company, Robert Pieczka, said: “We can see a correlation between the growth of white as the most popular new car colour and the launch of the most aspirational consumer electronics.

“It is seen as dynamic, youthful and helps define cutting edge technology; that’s why so many new cars are specified in white.”

Picture: Vauxhall