Munich/Las Vegas. At the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas from 6 to 9 January 2015, BMW presents a concept vehicle that showcases the kind of lighting innovations we can expect in the future, while at the same time reinforcing its leadership position in the field of lighting technology.

LED lighting has entered the state of cutthroat battlefield, and manufacturers are seeking new Blue Ocean Strategy. LED automotive lighting has a relatively higher gross margin compared with other traditional LED applications, attracting many Taiwanese LED makers to start planning to enter the automotive-use LED lighting field. Duff Lu, research manager at LEDinside, a research division of TrendForce, indicates that even though automotive-use LED certification periods are long and the entry barrier for entering the supply chain is high, but its overall market revenue from 2014-2018 has a compounded growth rate of 9%. In particular, the daytime running lamp (DRL) and high-low beam headlights (H/L Beam) have compounded annual production values of 21% and 48% respectively; they are two major production applications to be watched. 

Light pioneer Mercedes-Benz offers a preview of what the future holds: instead of the 24 LEDs of the gridded high beam module in the CLS headlamp, 84 LEDs per headlamp will soon be providing for even better light quality and even greater safety at night. In the medium term, as many as 1024 pixels per LED will enable optimum illumination of the road at every speed and in all traffic conditions – and without dazzling other road users.

SYLVANIA Automotive Lighting ushers in a new era of vehicle lighting with the expansion of the SYLVANIA ZEVOTM Automotive LED Lighting line. SYLVANIA ZEVO products offer the customized style and signature look of LED technology on luxury vehicles to the aftermarket.

Ford Motor Company and NextEnergy, one of the nation’s leading accelerators of advanced energy technologies, have teamed up on a technology innovation challenge for industry suppliers to help advance state-of-the-art automotive lighting.

Entering its 10th anniversary this year, Taiwanese LED package manufacturer Prolight Opto Technology (Prolight) will become registered on the Taiwan bourse on Sept. 24, 2014. At a press conference, the company explained it expects to apply for listing during first half of 2015, and projects becoming listed on the bourse during third quarter that year.

While the LED industry was still reeling from news of Epistar’s acquisition of FOREPI, Philips dropped another bomb shell, announcing the merger of its LED component and automotive lighting assets on June 30, 2014. 

LED package manufacturer Everlight has been actively developing their LED lighting brand, according to the Economic Daily News. The company merged with Germany luminaire manufacturer WOFI for less than NT $400 million (US $13.3 million) last year, which adds an extra NT $100 million to its monthly revenues. Everlight has recently announced plans to acquire another European luminaire manufacturer this year to continue expanding the company’s market presence. 

Two more automotive manufacturers have made the switch to LED lighting. American automotive manufacturers Dodge and Jeep, members of the Chrysler Group, have introduced new LED lighting design concepts for their upcoming models. 

Following the rise in the automotive electronics market, Excellence Opto. Inc. (EOI) is trying to make a mark for itself in the automotive LED lighting market.

Fitting the right car driving lights can be the key to improved safety when driving off-road or in rural locations at night. All Tuff Lighting knows precisely which HID lights are best suited for any off-road or rural driving purposes anywhere in Australia.

LED wafer manufacturer Epistar’s president Li Bingjie revealed that with the company successful entrance into supply chains of European and Asian based automotive makers, their next target is the Korean automotive supply chain.

With the Frankfurt Motor Show only a few weeks away, UK car dealer AutoeBid has highlighted some of the key facelift models due to be displayed.

It has been reported that the Volt-based Cadillac ELR will be launched this winter as the first electric vehicle with all-LED exterior lighting. Its provocative shape and luxurious interior makes an immediate impact. The distinction of first electric vehicle is a necessary one as the redesigned 2014 Mercedes S-Class to be launched this fall is said to be the first with all-LED lighting among all cars. In any case, the Cadillac is in exceptional company, and GM first showed the car so equipped at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit this year....