Until last June, I was convinced laser technogy was more a communication operation—a PR exercise—than a plausible technology for automotive lighting. Since then, I've totally changed my position for three reasons. Firstly, there's the DVN survey involving visits to 22 set makers, light source suppliers and universities. I have seen companies actively developing surprising laser and scanning-laser technologies, which will pave the way for development of laser-based automotive lighting. Secondly, my night drive in a car equipped with the i8 lights with their huge increase in seeing distance. I never before thought it was possible to have such massive light beyond 200 metres without excessive foreground light.

And while those two factors would have been sufficient to change my mind, the lectures at last month's DVN Workshop, from BMW and light source suppliers and universities—and discussions with companies involved in laser light development—really sealed it for me. Have a look at this week's in-depth item focused on the workshop.

Of course, I know many experts do not share my position about laser lights. They point to the very high cost and many technical points that may not be solvable before about 2025. They may be right, but for now I am convinced that the technology will arrive in many new cars before 2020 and the forecast of 2% in 2020 to 15% in 2025, defined by Ralf Schäfer and Jean-Paul Charret in their lectures, is realistically achievable. We shall see!

Sincerely yours

DVN Editor in Chief