Osram Underlines Leading Position in Automotive Lighting

At this year’s Automechanika, Osram presented innovations in all lighting technologies. Highlights included the first xenon/LED headlight from Osram, LED DRL and fog lights and a laser module which will be fitted to the new BMW i8 and other selected vehicles.

“With our new products we are providing an important boost to the automobile market. As the world market leader in automotive lighting we are once again strengthening our pioneering role in this sector,” said Hans-Joachim Schwabe, CEO Specialty Lighting at Osram. Automechanika took place from Sept. 16-20 in Frankfurt.

A particular highlight was the LEDriving Xenarc Headlight for the Audi A4, the first full headlight developed and produced by Osram with a combination of xenon and LED technologies. The company is the only manufacturer so far to offer the option of a legal upgrade to xenon light without the need for major reconstruction of the front of the vehicle. The LEDriving Xenarc Headlight provides significantly more light than halogen headlights from renowned car manufacturers and also offers daytime running light functionality based on LEDs.

Laser light for the BMW i8 is another milestone from Osram. The i8 is the first production car in the world with this new lighting technology. Development of this highly innovative light source is the result of successful cooperation involving Osram, its subsidiary Osram Opto Semiconductors, the BMW Group and headlight manufacturer ZKW. The benefits of laser light include its extremely long range and exceptionally high system efficiency. An adaptive control circuit based on the car’s speed and a link to a digital camera-based high-beam assistant reliably ensure that there is no chance of oncoming drivers being dazzled. Laser light modules are extremely compact, opening up a huge range of design options.

In addition to expanding its offering of traditional light sources — such as a larger Cool Blue Intense portfolio and a new amber turn indicator light, the Diadem Deep Amber — Osram presented a new series of LEDsBIKE lamps for bicycles.