TrendingNow – The global trend is towards LED – be it single or multi function lamps. On the new tail lamp, the wiping effect is innovative, which is defined as ‘three light-emitting diodes that get activated one after the other, thus creating a wiping effect in the direction of intended travel’. A major trend for Hella is transferring the technology pertaining to the electronic systems from the passenger car segment to the special vehicles. Mr. Nicolas Wiedman, Head – Business Division SOE said: “We are known for lighting systems across the globe but we are trying to step up and catch up and cater to the truck segment which is now strongly supporting electronic components more and more. For instance, rail lights in passenger cars is an imperative feature in Europe because it is a high safety product, yet it is not available across the special vehicle segment.” Hella’s global technology and lighting trend is getting replicated in India as well. Mr. Kumar Rohit – DGM, Product Management – Hella India Lighting said: “As far as front lighting is concerned, in India we are promoting modularity. It means we have a standard product available with us and we have to develop only the outer casing. So it gives an advantage to the customer that the development lead time will be reduced because we have a standard product available and it can be easily adapted to as per the customer’s requirement and styling.”
GlobalFirst – It’s the projection system which is new technology for even the European market. If a vehicle is backing, braking, stopping or turning or even at the time the reverse gear is employed, the signals can be projected on to the road for extra safety of all involved while on the road. Mr. Michel Post – VP, Sales – Highway & Leisure Vehicles, Hella GmbH shared: “We have road safety elements – which is extremely important to us. We are not talking about markets or products, we are talking about lives.”
TechnologyFirst – Hella is a lighting technology company primarily and is consistently adding more advanced technology into their lighting systems. Mr. Peter Giese, Vice President – Product Management SOE answered: “It is comfort functionality which enables the driver to switch the light on or off while driving in where traffic comes ahead or pedestrians so they can hold on to the high beam and electronically be switched off in certain areas, this is one solution for advanced driving systems. This provides more safety on the road.” With the LED technology, Hella aims to create much more than the traditional technology and that is exactly what the brand is creating with their new generation of products.
IndiaCentric- Hella is moving towards electronics and electrical products and the trend is visible in both India and the global markets. Be it the vacuum pump, rain light sensor, intelligent battery sensors or accelerator pedals – the trend is now coming up in India attracting demand from the Indian customers as well. Mr. Rohit added: “These are readily available for us globally and it is merely a matter of customer requirement to bring these products into India. For instance, the customers wanted the Fully Water and Dust Proof LED tail lamp and the LED work lamp and we have brought it into India. Yet in India it is about price sensitivity, so the new technology of LED head lamp at a lower price is a challenge right now.” Mr. Wiedman said: “In India, currently, we see that the vehicles are using a range of products with new technologies by us. And we are offering global product range that also has Indian products too. If you see our reverse lights, work lamps and the like, you will see the products developed and produced in India.” Hella India launched LED tail lamp in 2012 with a five-year warranty providing full water- and dust-proof when it was still a new technology globally.
WhatWorks – Mr. Giese said: “We listen to the market. What we have found out is that it is not only the design that drives the market but also the functionality. We keep receiving many different requests to go into different markets. For us it is a two-fold strategy – one, to have customized products specially in front lighting and some rear lighting; second, to have a road map that consists of standard components where we customize good products for people who may not have robust budgets.” Hella’s key advantage is their local presence in all the markets in the world which helps them ‘really push into the markets’ and ‘hit the right price point’ with aesthetically pleasing style and designs.
Hella continues to light up every path!