Valeo to develop LED technology for front lighting applications

Frankfurt, Germany, September 16 -- Bright white lighting from LEDs (light emitting diode) is moving from the rear to the front of the car, Valeo announced at the IAA International Motor Show in Frankfurt. Valeo is developing LED technology for a wide range of front lighting applications that could be in series production in three years.

"Valeo has proven design and development expertise for LED technology for rear lighting applications such as rear combination lamps and centre-high-mounted stop lights," said Thierry Morin, Valeo Chairman & Chief Executive Officer. "Valeo is now extending this technology to front lighting functions with the potential to achieve significant performance benefits especially for adaptive lighting functions, and highly desired styling flexibility which will differentiate new top-end models by creating distinctive signatures."

LEDs are solid-state semiconductor devices that convert electrical energy directly into light. Recent increases in LED performance, combined with their small size, low power consumption and high reliability, make LED technology a realistic option for automotive designers specializing in exterior lighting. The pure white colour of next generation LED front lighting is expected to become a prominent design feature of future top-end vehicles.

At the front of the car, Valeo is developing position lamps, turn signals, front fog lamps, daytime running lights, fixed bending light and low beams with LED. A unique characteristic of using LED as a light source is the availability of a full range of optical solutions that cover this wide variety of functions.

Valeo is developing LED technology with Valeo Sylvania of North America and Ichikoh Industries of Japan. Through this global alliance Valeo can propose solutions to carmakers worldwide while focusing on the specific needs of each market.

Optical lenses are proposed for functions such as direction indicators and daylight running lights, while a reflector or optical fibre light guide is suitable for the position lamp. Other front lighting functions such as fog lamps, fixed bending light and low beam will be implemented using special optical modules to create cut-off lines required by lighting regulations. In addition to optics, integrated control electronics and thermal management are essential features of LED front lighting.

Compared to traditional incandescent lamps with equivalent output, LEDs consume significantly less power and since the lifespan of LEDs is longer than that of the vehicle itself, carmakers may choose to omit additional design space to change an LED. Car owners can be confident that the lights will switch on whenever required. The compact size of LEDs contributes to greater design freedom, allowing for the integration of lighting functions into the overall front-end design.

By working on a complete LED system, Valeo can assure carmakers that the front lighting system is compatible with the technical requirements of carmakers' diverse vehicle architectures.

Valeo is exhibiting at the 60th IAA International Motor Show on stand D02 in hall 8.

Valeo is an independent industrial Group fully focused on the design, production and sale of components, integrated systems and modules for cars and trucks. Valeo ranks among the world's top automotive suppliers. The Group has 130 plants, 54 R&D centres, 9 distribution centres and employs 69,000 people in 25 countries worldwide.

Media contact: Malene Pickles, +33 1 40 55 20 74, email: malene.pickles@valeo.com