Who would ever have guessed that tattoos could become this popular? Almost 40% of the youngest adult generation, the 18- to 25-year-olds of Gen Y, have one "tat" or more. So only it makes sense that mass marketers would try to extend the trend to their brands.

Ford Motor is quoting those figures from a survey by the Pew Research Center to explain how it is trying to sell vinyl graphic that emblazon its Ford Fiesta and other cars. It wants younger buyers to think of them as tattoos for cars. "Millennials have a very personalized, artistic side to their lifestyle, and their vehicle is a very important part of that," said KC Dallia, Focus brand manager.

Like the board showing the designs on the walls of tattoo parlors, more than 200 graphics are now available for the Fiesta. And while the limits of skin, especially how much skin society generally allows to be shown in public, curtail how well people can display their tattoos, cars offer a lot more display space.

Ford Custom Graphics developed for the new Focus will range in price from $120 to $470 and can be easily removed without damaging the car. Real tattoos? Try thousands of dollars and lots of time under lasers if you want to remove them. The Pew study found that half of the Millennials with tattoos don't stop at one. They have two to five.