Since November 3, 2008, Thierry Kalanquin is the new director of Valeo Lighting Systems.
Thierry was since the end of 2005 the director of the rear lighting division located at Sens and organised the transfer of the Neuses plant to Poland.
He replaces Claude Leichlé who managed VLS since May 2005.
Claude Leichlé will take charge of another Valeo branch.
Valeo Lighting sales are €1.2bn with 17 plants in 12 countries and 4 R&D centers
In 2007, Valeo Lighting Systems contributed the following innovative systems to the Driving Assistance domain:
– Adaptive Lighting, an addition to dynamic bending light, which adapts to different driving situations, such as motorway or city driving, and to weather conditions (rain and fog);
– Night vision system, which offers drivers three times the level of standard visibility without a dazzling effect, using infrared technology; this infrared active night vision system enables drivers to drive using dipped headlamps while enjoying visibility equivalent to driving with full-beam headlamps;
– LED front and rear lighting and signalling technologies, which combine high performance, energy savings and innovative designs at the front and rear of the vehicle. This technology is used for daytime running lamps, which will be mandatory in all light vehicles throughout Europe from 2012 onwards;
– XLED adaptive headlamps: Xenon directional lighting associated with LED modules featuring directional lighting functions and automatic additional lighting on highways offer optimal visibility (up to 90% better than halogen lamps) depending on driving conditions;
– Dual-function headlamps with low and main beams that use mercury-free Xenon bulbs, an environmentally friendly technology.