When it came to paint colors on new cars, for ten years, silver was the one hue to rule them all, not just extending its lead through 2009 and 2010 but doing so in the U.S., Europe and Asia.

Pittsburgh paint maker PPG Industries recently proclaimed Purple Basil its 2025 color of the year for everything from cars to home interiors. The car paint creators describe the hue as a “dusty ...

A.M. Edition for December 28: Some old line industrial companies like 3M and PPG Industries are hoping to become suppliers for the vehicles of the future: electric and self-driving cars.