The international automotive supplier FORVIA HELLA is taking efficiency, design freedom, and cost optimization in automotive lighting technology to a new level with the first market launch of FlatLight technology as a daytime running light. After the technology was successfully launched in series production for rear applications in 2024, the market launch for front applications is now following. Overall, FlatLight from FORVIA HELLA is already part of customer projects with a total volume in the mid three-digit million euro range. Production takes place at the Slovakian lighting plants in Kocovce and Banovce. The development of the FlatLight modules is carried out at the company headquarters in Lippstadt (Germany), while customer-specific applications are developed at the sites in Ljubljana (Slovenia), Mohelnice, and Ostrava (Czech Republic).

The innovative light guide concept of the FlatLight | μMX technology is based on so-called micro-optics: these are optical lenses smaller than a grain of salt. These optics, which are only a few micrometers in size, enable completely new, distinctive, and at the same time highly efficient light signatures. As a result, the required installation space is reduced by around 80 percent due to the low module depth and multifunctionality: while conventional daytime running lights require a depth of around 40 mm, the FlatLight technology manages with just five millimeters. In addition, FlatLight is about 40 percent more energy-efficient and 80 percent lighter than comparable systems on the market.

The FlatLight technology is also highly scalable and can be used in all vehicle signal functions for front or rear applications. At the front area, for example, it can provide daytime running lights, indicators and position lights in a single light element, while at the rear it can provide rear lights, brake lights and indicators. Previously, this required individual chambers. The shape of the individual optical elements can also be freely designed. Complex welcome and farewell scenarios can not only be designed via a software interface but also implemented directly.

"Smaller, more efficient, better: the trend towards miniaturization in the automotive industry continues to gain momentum. With our FlatLight technology, which we have already successfully brought into series production for rear applications, we are now addressing this trend for front applications as well," says Dr. Michael Kleinkes, who is responsible for global lighting development at FORVIA HELLA, among other things. "FlatLight stands not only for quality, design, and performance at the highest level. At the same time, we want to make innovation and sustainable mobility affordable on a broad scale. FlatLight | μMX therefore underlines how sophisticated technology can be both energy-efficient and affordable."

At the beginning of the year, FORVIA HELLA entered into a strategic partnership with the US start-up company BrightView Technologies. As part of this, special optical films have been developed, so that the use of micro- and nano-optics enables lighter, more efficient, and at the same time more cost-effective lighting solutions. The optical films developed jointly with BrightView Technologies are now to be gradually integrated into all FlatLight series projects. Part of the development partnership is also a strategic investment in BrightView Technologies, which was made through the venture capital arm HELLA Ventures.