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Apple changed the color of cars, says BMW designer

By
Philip Elmer-DeWitt
Philip Elmer-DeWitt
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By
Philip Elmer-DeWitt
Philip Elmer-DeWitt
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August 30, 2012, 7:54 AM ET

FORTUNE — In a piece about how brown has become the “red-hot” color for cars and trucks, Motoramic‘s Brett Berk offers this insight into Apple’s (AAPL) influence on the automobile market:

Silver was the most popular exterior car color in America for nearly a decade. But while it remains beloved by automotive designers for best showing off a car’s styling, its unstinting argent reign was finally overthrown this year. By white. According to Sandy McGill, BMW Designworks’ lead designer in color, materials, and finish, this is Steve Jobs’ doing. “Prior to Apple, white was associated with things like refrigerators or the tiles in your bathroom. Apple made white valuable.”

Who knew?

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By Philip Elmer-DeWitt
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