“Light is the new chrome” – this statement perfectly describes the role that lighting plays in modern vehicles. It is already a key design element that creates carefully staged gloss effects – in addition to "conventional tasks related to safety and visibility. Lighting is an increasingly important design element for distinguishing models and brands from one another, not only on the outside but also in the interior. In fact, lighting design in the automotive sector and the underlying technologies have made enormous leaps in recent years.
Lighting Fulfills more and More Tasks
Thanks in part to AI, the first lighting systems are now able to analyse weather and environmental conditions.
Light is adaptive, projective and takes care of signalling to any appearing driving mode and exceed our expectation for interior illumination conditions. Ever since e-mobility and autonomous driving have been on the rise, light has no longer served merely to illuminate. Rather, it conveys messages and gives each vehicle a very individual touch. In the future, lighting will also be used for communication – not only as turn signals or brake lights, but also to indicate the intentions of the driver (or the fully automated car) to other road users.
Technology For Entirely New Applications
As well as the performance, longevity and energy efficiency benefits of solid state lighting, there are functionality benefits too.
Matrix lighting has meant that different LED emitters can be turned on and off to shape the light beam. Illumination can be directed to take road bends or inclines into account, resulting in greater driver visibility of what lies ahead. As an extension of this, animated lighting is becoming very appealing. This enables dynamic illumination that will make vehicle models using this technology stand out from the competition. Animation can be applied when the vehicle doors are opened, when the engine is started, or alternatively when the indicators are in operation or the brakes applied. Another differentiator of this kind will be automotive brand logo projection.
Add a Personal Touch With Interior Lighting
Interior lighting is also changing.
As with vehicle exteriors, there are definitely opportunities for animation within the cabin, to make things a little more exciting. RGB LEDs permit the ambient light to be altered to suit vehicle occupants’ personal preferences. UV disinfection will be important for shared cars, so that docked smartphones do not result in transmission of pathogens.
Lighting as the New Shining Face
The advent of electric vehicles in particular offers new opportunities for lighting design, as the radiator grille, which was previously a central design element, is no longer necessary.
In 2025, according to the Eurostat study "Digitalisation in Europe", more than a third of people in the EU (35%) used generative AI tools.
This means that the front of the vehicle and the lighting system can be conceived and designed in a completely individual design language. Cars are thus given a new, radiant face. This not only benefits product designers, but also opens up completely new technical possibilities, especially in terms of system integration and sensor technology.
EBV has a broad range of products for automotive lighting, not just covering the LEDs, but also the accompanying drivers.
Do you have a Question?
Contact EBV
If you need any assistance, please click below to find your closest EBV sales office.
Solutions
EBV Embedded Solutions
We're at the forefront of embedded systems innovation, delivering advanced solutions that drive digital transformation across industries.
Resources
EBV Podcast
Our new podcast Passion for Technology is dedicated to the latest technologies, trends and applications in the electronics industry.