Enlightened interiors

Product developers at Chicago Miniature Lamp discuss trends and advances in automotive interior lighting.

Properly integrated into new-car designs, well-harmonized interior lighting is a powerful, cost-effective marketing tool. Besides improving safety, good lighting personalizes the interior for driver and passengers and makes the entire vehicle more appealing, convenient, and distinctive. Studies indicate three additional dollars spent on interior lighting broadens vehicle sales appeal more than $80 spent on audio equipment or $2000 on navigation systems. However, automotive lighting trends and recent advances in lighting technology present design opportunities and technical challenges for OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers. Complex lighting decisions make it important for interior designers to involve lighting experts early in the design process. A vertically integrated supplier offering a choice of light sources, optical technologies, and manufacturing approaches can integrate custom solutions at the lowest cost and shorten time-to-market.

The number of interior lights in the average automobile more than tripled from the 1995 to 2000 model years. Safety legislation now requires lighted indicators for antilock brakes and other features on new passenger cars, vans, and heavy trucks. More plentiful than dashboard indicators are the vanity, map, and convenience lights that attract potential buyers.