German lighting and electronics expert HELLA and China FAW Group (FAW), one of the largest automobile manufacturers in China, have agreed to make their joint venture Changchun Hella Faway Automotive Lighting (CHFAL) a strategic partner of the FAW premium brand ‘Hongqi’. This includes providing sophisticated headlamp systems, as well as innovative solutions for interior lighting and bodywork.
“Automotive lighting technology will continue to gain in importance and, not least, play a great part in shaping the appearance and indeed the image of our vehicle models, especially the Hongqi brand,” said Zhang Pijie, chairman of FAWAY and head of purchasing in the FAW Group. “We are therefore all the happier to have HELLA and the joint venture CHFAL at our side. They are respected partners who will equip us with complex lighting systems.”
Dr. Frank Huber, member of the HELLA management board responsible for the global lighting business, added, “FAW and FAWAY have been close and important partners of ours for many years. We are therefore delighted to be able to expand this cooperation further and to support various FAW brands even better with our lighting solutions.”
CHFAL was founded in 2012 as a joint venture between HELLA and the FAW subsidiary Changchun FAWAY Automobile Components. HELLA has been present in China since 1992 and is currently represented there with over 5,500 employees operating in 16 companies (including five joint ventures).
HELLA and Faurecia at IAA
At the Frankfurt Motor Show 2019 (IAA), HELLA and automotive technology developer Faurecia presented a demonstration vehicle that showcased their latest concepts for the vehicle interior of the future. This included various lighting solutions and functionalities to support a diverse range of automated driving scenarios.
“The driver is increasingly becoming a passenger,” said Huber. “Together with our partner Faurecia, we are therefore working intensively on the integration of innovative lighting solutions into the vehicle interior, which can be adapted, for example, to the respective needs of the occupants or the driving situation.”
David Weill, vice president, Marketing and Business Development at Faurecia Interiors, added, “Personalized lighting and interior solutions can create completely new differentiation features. As part of our strategic cooperation with HELLA, we have already implemented the first impressive solutions.”
The strategic cooperation between HELLA and Faurecia focuses on sophisticated, dynamic lighting designs and surface solutions with integrated lighting elements. When passengers enter the vehicle they are greeted by personalized interior lighting on the instrument and door panels as well as the seats. Additional lighting functionalities also provide the occupants with relevant information. Incoming calls can, for example, be indicated by lighting signals without disturbing other passengers.
Faurecia and HELLA have also jointly worked on functionalities improving communication and safety in automated driving situations. This includes the division of tasks between driver and vehicle at the end of an autonomous driving situation.
