DVN Workshop Panel Discussion #4: Styling Is the Driver

At the DVN Workshop recently held near Detroit, there were four "Round Table" panel discussions orbitally centred round the theme of the workshop.

Here we offer you a précis of the fourth discussion. The rubric was LEDs and Styling, chaired by Chrysler's Dennis Nowack.
The discussion got started with Mr. Nowack showing an array of LED lamps from other automakers benchmarked by Chrysler in their study and ongoing efforts in LED lighting developments. In addition to the gradual replacement of traditional light sources by LEDs, another trend is that low-profile LED lighting devices are replacing high-profile halogen fog lamps in the front fascia. And of course, it was mentioned that Audi vehicles continue to advance the state of the art for forward lighting devices.

Audi A6

Also of particular note is the new Hyundai Sonata with highly designed front and rear LED lamps (see DVN NAIAS 2012 report to be published next week).

Does attractive LED lighting on a car influence customer purchase decisions? Yes, but maybe not directly. Lighting has been a low-interest subject in America, but it's waking up in part due to new lighting designs: when we look at a vehicle, we see an overall sculpture, and with LEDs the lighting now starts to bring a jewellery effect.

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