Long ago in another life on another planet, late this past January we spent two wonderful and fruitful days dreaming and discussing on the future of lighting innovations—ADB for safety, high resolution/µLED systems, scanning or DMD systems, ADB with low cost, lighting modules, digital lights, new generation laser lights, lighting communication, dynamic lighting…all kinds of new systems and techniques enabling new functionalities. We were excited and busy preparing for huge innovations and developments, eagerly seeking resources to make it all real. The future of lighting was brilliant.
Now just 10 weeks on, we’re in a very different reality. Now just about everyone in the industry, across all sectors, is more interested in how to survive (and maybe how to contribute to the war effort against the virus) than how best to realise lighting innovations. Millions of people are unemployed; millions more are underemployed. Q1-2020 just ended, and the coronavirus has turned the world upside down in this quarter. Many automakers and lighting suppliers have seen a precipitous dropoff in sales and revenues, and have withdrawn business guidance across the world, reporting their measures in response to the impacts brought by the pandemic.
The automotive industry is strong, and so is the lighting industry; they will rebound. But big sacrifices and big efforts will be needed. Let’s think about how best to be ready for that.
This week there’s a new chapter, automotive lighting today, in our onrunning saga “The Wonderful Story of Lighting” and we’ve got an in-depth piece about an interesting Romanian company called Elba.
You will also discover, how an American automotive newscast used DVN information published last week in its newsletter.
Sincerely yours