Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) are rapidly gaining popularity with automotive lighting designers for both practical and aesthetic reasons. Bumper-to-bumper, LEDs (and now Organic LEDs) are ideal for automotive lighting elements such as head lamps, daytime running lights, fog lights, turn signals, interior lighting, infotainment backlighting, rear combination lamps and center high-mounted stop lamps.

The automotive industry is in something of a transformational renaissance now. A number of new and exciting lighting technologies that provide pleasing aesthetics, advanced safety and high levels of performance are either currently available in the market or are in advanced stages of development.

Since the development of LED lights for use in the automotive sector, the industry has seen a raft of innovations in both interior and exterior lighting. The design constraints of traditional headlights have been thrown off, and OEM’s are quickly embracing the new possibilities that LED’s provide. Learn more about this year's lighting trends: From Multibeam LED to HUD Technology.

Demand for advanced automotive lighting systems from manufacturers and the consumer has seen a significant growth in ambient lighting in recent years. Industry research has shown that... Article courtesy of Automotive IQ.

This article by Colin Pawsey examines the progression of RGB/LIN technology to produce multiple-colour LED lighting, OLED surface lighting, and more. These systems heading to the automotive market in the near future. Article courtesy of Automotive IQ.

Last year, at CES 2017, Toyota revealed its Concept-I vehicle, which features an AI assistant – named Yui – which uses light and sound to communicate with the driver. For example, coloured lighting illuminates the footwell to indicate whether the vehicle is in manual or self-driving mode. The exterior of the car also uses light to communicate with driver and surroundings. Other automakers are following suit, and turning their attention to the development of interior lighting concepts as a means of brand differentiation. With increasing pressure on automakers to deliver fuel-efficient, low-emission engines, speed and performance is becoming less of a differentiator, so many see ambient lighting as the next battleground.