In the last couple of weeks, many people have heard about surprising news: Europe had banned a specific car color, and that the U.S. could do the same. The color everybody is talking about is chrome, that shiny effect, as if it were a mirror, that many car owners have used for years.
For many people it seemed like Europe wanted to completely remove this color on the roads. However, the truth is that Europe didn’t ban the color, what it banned was a dangerous chemical used to produce that effect. So, let’s see what really happened and why Europe made that decision.
Chrome color
This color is popular for its elegant shiny effect and for giving cars a luxurious appearance, but it’s used for more things than a nice aesthetic. This color creates a protector layer that helps avoid metal oxidization, making many pieces to last longer. The chrome process started in 1924 and, since then, it has been used in cars, kitchen products, and other decorative items. Its shiny style, mirror-style, became a signal of quality and appealing.
However, there’s a problem: to achieve that special shine many companies use a chemical called hexavalent chromium. This chemical is toxic and it has been related to lung cancer and other serious breathing issues. What’s more, studies have proved the chrome process can release dangerous substances into the environment.
It’s true that there are products called ‘’chemical fume suppressants’’ that help control gas emissions, but some of them (like the PFAS) also concern people because they can stay in nature for a long time and cause damage. This is why chrome has become an important issue for environmental health experts and for governments.
What Europe really banned
Many people believe Europe banned the chrome color, but it’s fake. Europe didn’t do that, what was banned was the use of hexavalent chromium in the chrome process. This means that chrome can still exist as long as it’s produced with safer methods.
This rule comes from REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals) regulations. REACH doesn’t say the chrome color is banned, what it actually says is that no highly dangerous chemicals can be used to make it.
The idea is to protect people and the planet by removing toxic substances without getting rid of the effect people still love. So, if companies use less damaging products, they can still offer that shiny effect with no trouble.
Effect on the U.S.
After Europe’s decision many people in the U.S. have wondered if something similar could happen there. Well, California is already making similar measures since the state voted to remove step by step the hexavalent chromium by 2039. Once again, this doesn’t mean saying goodbye to the chrome color on cars, it’s just to the toxic chemical used to produce it.
The automotive industry is changing and brands like BMW and Mercedes-Benz offer “chrome-delete” packages that give cars a more modern matte look instead of a shiny chrome finish. These changes show that automakers see this moment not as a problem, but as an opportunity to modernize and create safer, more sustainable materials. Suppliers are not happy about the idea, but environment experts believe the restriction is necessary.
Not the end of the chrome effect
Even though some headlines might sound so dramatic, this is not the end of the chrome. Europe just wants to remove dangerous chemicals, so that we can enjoy the chrome effect in a safer way.
Of course, this decision has influenced the automotive industry to become cleaner and safer: it’s a new era where manufacturing chrome is done in a way that protects people and the environment.