After his wonderful keynote at the DVN Shanghai workshop, I asked Robert Miller to make the report on the 2013 Shanghai Auto Show and we are proud to publish it today. Robert explains how the Shanghai auto show is different to other auto shows by the huge number of very interesting concept cars and production cars unveiled, including mass production models equipped with full LED headlamps.
It is increasingly apparent that most companies are coming to understand the importance of this lever for the overall attractiveness of the car. Engineering and design teams are working more and more together and the results follow and are visible in most new cars.
With China being the largest new-car market on the planet, all the automotive players are focused and competing for the visual prize of being seen and getting their brands noticed there with innovation, style and distinct looks. Exterior and interior lighting are one of the mainstays of design innovation. It is surely a fact: this current decade will be much more challenging and competitive for automotive companies and each of them will be tested to see if they can navigate to deliver positive performance and design looks that will sell cars.
Often design innovation is born out of the necessity to do something different in order to get noticed. This year’s theme in Shanghai was “innovation for a better life”. This is certainly true with the hottest design area , automotive lighting, that continues to expand at an amazing rate. While it is not possible to document each and every single vehicle lighting design innovation and trend—such a report would quickly grow tiresome—it is possible to break out the major categories to showcase innovative lighting trends, new technologies being used, and unique designs being shown.
Robert Miller defines some key points which emerge based on the Shanghai show:
• Light creates ambience and feel of a space, as well as the expression of an environment.
• Automotive designers are very interested in light to tailor the ambience, feel, expression and environment for their vehicles.
• The use of lighting is becoming an important part of the brand strategy and helps enforce the DNA of the automaker with design.
• Expect all aspects of lighting to increase, more design risks to be taken, and a higher degree of integration with new materials to create new looks.
Do have a look at the report!
Sincerely yours
DVN General Editor