Farewell to radiators, make way for new lights: the switch to electric will change the face of cars, with illuminated logos.
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Since January 1, 2023, manufacturers have the right to illuminate a central logo or two logos on the left and right, on the front grille but also on the rear trunk of vehicles.
On the proposal of France and Germany, this development was adopted in 2022 by the Forum for the Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations, which depends on the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE).
Some models sold in China or North America, by Mercedes for example, already featured logos that illustrate the brand even at night.
It is not a question of transforming cars into excessive media: only the logo of the car brand can be illuminated for the moment. And its size is limited to 100 square centimeters.
Volkswagen should be one of the first manufacturers to take the plunge in Europe “from 2023”, the German manufacturer told AFP.
Several of the VW models, from the Golf to the electric ID range, already display a light bar at the front, which is only missing the logo.
At the Paris Motor Show in October 2022, then at the CES show in Las Vegas in early January, Renault, Peugeot or RAM presented concept cars with illuminated logos.
But neither the Stellantis group, which owns 14 brands including Fiat, Chrysler, Peugeot and Citroën, nor Renault have scheduled a date for a series release for now. Ford also said it is working on it.
The equipment manufacturer Valeo confirms that it has already designed “several illuminated logos for major manufacturers, which will be mass-produced in the coming months”.
Until now, the radiators of gasoline and diesel cars limited the freedom of designers.
Valeo explains that “with the disappearance of the ventilation grilles that existed on vehicles with thermal propulsion, automotive designers now have complete freedom to completely rethink the front end of electric vehicles and thus be able to work on a brand signature. more accomplished”.
One of the other major French equipment manufacturers, Forvia, has also received orders for illuminated logos from 2022.
Eventually, new lights could also play an enhanced role in vehicle safety.
According to the concepts presented by the equipment manufacturers, they could in particular indicate on the ground information on the direction that the vehicle will take, or if it is driving in autonomous mode, for the attention of other motorists such as pedestrians.
According to Bostjan Furlan, exterior lighting managers at Forvia, “revolutionary technologies” could set “new standards in the design and integration of features at the front of the vehicle”.