Growing demand for rear LED lighting in cars

Rear lamp with LED functions, BMW F 10 (Hella): standard on luxury cars in Europe, now seen moving to North American models even at entry level.

Demand for rear LED vehicle lighting could be growing throughout the Americas. Rear LED lighting offers safety features, energy-savings and styling advantages over conventional tail lamps.

Because LEDs reach peak performance in milliseconds, they can help motorists avoid rear-end collisions. By allowing drivers more time to react, studies have shown that LED lighting translates into seven to 10 feet in braking distance -- distance that counts in emergency situations.

There's also little or no risk of driving with burnt-out rear tail lamps with LED technology. LEDs last for the life of a car, while conventional bulbs typically burn out after 800-1,000 hours of use. Matched against conventional or upgraded HID lamps, LED rear and front lighting systems provide energy savings ranging from 65 up to 80 percent as well.

Automakers are focusing more and more attention on rear-end styling, where LEDs also offer clear advantages over incandescent bulbs. LED rear lamps today are standard on most European luxury cars.  On smaller, less expensive car lines, LED treatments are offered in option packages to help distinguish a car line's sport, luxury or special-edition models.

Customer demand for LED lighting has been higher in technology-driven Europe than in the U.S., but interest in the Americas is growing, especially in rear lighting, according to the vice president of marketing for Hella Lighting, who predicts that LED rear-lighting sales in the NAFTA region will grow at a compounded annual rate of between six and nine percent.

"Virtually every new mid-size and above new-vehicle program planned for 2013 and beyond will offer LED rear-end lighting," he says. "Some automakers even are planning rear LED lighting for entry-level cars. "

LED technology can provide car makers with a variety of new rear styling options, including light-curtain, edge-light and glowing-body technologies. By illuminating specific shapes, these technologies contribute to the creation of brand-typical designs.

"Compared with conventional bulb technology, more sophisticated LED systems allow stylists to create a variety of other shapes and features."

Hella currently supplies LED rear lighting for more than 20 models, including vehicles from Audi, BMW, Cadillac, Ford, Lincoln and Volkswagen. The company is a leader in the development and manufacture of LED headlamps, as well as interior LED lighting systems.