HIDS

The automotive lighting industry had revenues totaling $1.66 billion in 2004, according to Frost & Sullivan's Analysis of the North American Automotive Lighting Technologies Markets.

High intensity discharge (HID) headlights, light-emitting diode (LED) rear combination lamps and third brake lights have improved revenues, due to higher price points and increased demand.

HID headlamps, used mostly in high-end vehicles, produce up to twice as much light as halogen lamps and provide a bluish-white cast. The Frost & Sullivan analyst reported a motorist using HID is able to see about 100 meters to the front of the vehicle, compared to less than 60 meters with standard halogen lighting. Perceived glare has been the greatest fight of HID headlamps.

One manufacturer said new "white-light" bulbs offer the same positive effects of OE-style HID systems, but without offensive glare. The new technology uses special filters that remove yellow rays within the lamps' projected color spectrum, producing a truer, whiter light.

But, HID lights have been an issue for the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA). In 2001, they received more than 5,000 complaints and concerns about perceived glare from HIDs, knock-offs and higher-mounted and supplemental front-mounted auxiliary lamps.

Now, replacement headlamps must comply with all applicable photometry requirements (and the same light source) as the OEM equipment, which is creating quite a stir in the industry. Companies like SEMA have filed a Petition for Reconsideration because NHTSA did not produce evidence that this rule would reduce traffic accidents, deaths or injuries (see our cover story for more on this issue).

LEDs are primarily used for third brake lights and trailer lighting. A few domestic vehicles use LEDs for rear combination lamps. They withstand road vibration and shock more effectively than bulbs, and have a life expectancy six times that of average incandescent bulbs. Due to low heat output and small size, bright-white LED lamps are in development for front lighting. The smaller size offers more flexibility for styling. Frost & Sullivan says these will enter the market in 2010 and could threaten the HID market. The analyst group estimates that LEDs will also enter the North American market as daytime running lights around 2007.

But like HIDs, LEDs have also run into problems with NHTSA, due to non-compliant products entering the U.S. with an uneven light pattern or less light output than required by law. These non-compliant LEDs have been commonly sold for commercial vehicle use and have put a black eye on the LED market.

Two other technologies--adaptive front lighting and night vision systems--will likely boost profits in the coming years. Adaptive front lighting (AFL) technology adapts to different driving conditions by either swiveling the headlamps or by using additional headlamps.

Night vision systems use infrared cameras to project images onto the lower part of the windshield.

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