Because LEDs are expensive, cost 20 times more than halogen bulbs, headlamps suppliers are targeting premium automakers. On this market, customers are less price-sensitive and will be prepared to pay for high-valued lighting.
Arguments in favour of LED are less energy consumption and less room, more lifetime and styling possibilities
Automotive Lighting estimates that the market for full LED headlamps could be worth around 200 m€ over the next four years and market analyst Roland Berger expects up to 15 percent penetration for full LED headlamps by 2010.
These headlamps use LED, Light Emitting Diodes. Until now most headlamps have used Xenon or Halogen systems.
LEDs are already used for signalling functions such as turn signals, rear lights or daytime running lights.
Regulations in North America already allow the use of LED headlamps. Cadillac’s Escalade SUV, presented at Detroit motor show, will carry a Hella system using LEDs created by Osram when it is set to be released later this year
Each headlamp module includes a small cooling fan to get rid of heat created by the LED and electronics. Hella will manufacture the lamps in Germany on an assembly line equipped to make up to 10,000 modules a year, company officials said at Detroit
The leading suppliers of LED light sources are Osram, Philips Lumiled, Toyoda Gosei and Cree
The leading suppliers of LED headlamps are Automotive lighting, Hella, Stanley, Koito, Odelo, Valeo, Ichikoh and Visteon
The leading car makers on LED headlights are Audi, GM and Toyota