Hella Sees Growing Demand For Rear LED Automotive Lighting

Hella, a leading supplier of automotive interior and exterior lighting systems, sees growing demand for rear LED vehicle lighting in North America. Rear LED lighting offers customers safety features, energy-savings and styling advantages, according to Mark Brainard, vice president of Hella's Corporate Center USA.
Brainard notes that conventional tail lamps take longer to fully illuminate. 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.
Pietzonka predicts that LED rear-lighting sales in the NAFTA region will grow at a compounded annual rate of between six and nine percent. He spoke during a Hella media briefing at Pine Lake Country Club in Orchard Lake, Michigan.