HID Headlights Prove Popular With Owners

HILLSBORO, N.H., June 25 -- A new study finds that 92 percent of vehicle owners currently using High Intensity Discharge (HID) headlights would buy a vehicle with this technology again. This finding stems from new research conducted by the Dorr Research Corporation of Burlington, VT.

The results of the independent study, funded by OSRAM SYLVANIA, indicate that drivers currently using HID headlights consider it to be an important feature to have for future vehicle purchases. Significantly, while only one- third of the new vehicle owners polled in New York, Florida, Illinois and Texas cited HID lighting as having some influence on their current automobile purchase decision, more than 60 percent said they would be influenced to some degree by HID availability on their next vehicle. These findings indicate that the availability of HID lighting on automobiles is becoming an influencing factor in vehicle purchase decisions. Another finding of the survey was that 94 percent of the respondents said they would recommend HID to a friend.

The study reveals that 81 percent of HID owners cite vision improvement as the number one advantage of having HID lighting equipped on their cars. Of those polled, 94 percent said that they see better with HID lighting than with traditional halogen lighting, and 92 percent stated that they see obstacles in the road sooner. From an aesthetics standpoint, 88 percent of respondents agreed that HID lighting "looks better than regular lighting." The majority of the respondents also agreed that HID is worth the cost.

"Dorr's research shows that drivers equipped with HID lighting appreciate the benefits that this technology provides in vision enhancement and vehicle styling, and that it meets the consumer's value and safety expectations," said David Hulick, product marketing manager for OSRAM SYLVANIA's Automotive Lighting division.

According to OSRAM SYLVANIA, HID usage in the U.S. is projected to exceed a 13 percent application rate on new vehicles by 2007 because of its visibility benefits, such as enhanced peripheral vision and significantly improved forward light output over standard halogen lights. Originally offered on high-end European luxury cars, HID technology has gradually gained market share in North America over the past few years.

OSRAM SYLVANIA commissioned the research to capture the "voice of the consumer" regarding HID automotive lighting. One hundred and fifty people, from four states, were randomly selected from a list provided by R.L. Polk, a national data resource center for automobile registration information. The study involved owners of 51 makes/models/years of vehicles with HID lighting available as either a standard or optional feature. Findings based on the entire sample of 150 respondents carry a maximum margin of error of plus or minus eight percent.

About OSRAM SYLVANIA

OSRAM SYLVANIA is the world leader in automotive lighting for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and the aftermarket. The company's global automotive lighting division has its principal North American operations in Hillsboro, N.H., with nearly 1,000 employees. This facility has achieved ISO 9001, 14001 and QS 9000 certifications. OSRAM SYLVANIA along with its affiliate, OSRAM Opto Semiconductors, designs, develops, manufacturers and markets world-class automotive light sources including auxiliary, advanced halogen, light emitting diodes (LEDs) and HID technologies for interior, exterior and forward lighting applications. Automotive applications for OEMs are marketed under the OSRAM brand.

OSRAM SYLVANIA has global reach and global promise. Together with its parent company, OSRAM GmbH, it is the second-largest lighting and materials enterprise in the world, serving companies in more than 140 countries. OSRAM SYLVANIA is the North American subsidiary of OSRAM, headquartered in Danvers, Mass., and it manufactures and markets a wide range of lighting products, including automotive, electronic and magnetic ballasts and precision materials and components for industrial and commercial users, original equipment manufacturers and consumers. For further information, visit www.sylvania.com