Research Report on Chinese Auto LED Lamp Industry, 2010-2011

So far, auto lamps have developed from original candle lamps to commonly used incandescent lamps. In recent years, new-type HID (High Intensity Discharge) and LED lamps have also emerged. The LED luminous efficiency can reach 80%-90%. New-type and intelligent LED lamps, which are called the fourth-generation auto light source, have become an outstanding member among global auto electronic products and will be the new development orientation of auto lamps.
Compared with traditional lamps, LED lamps have much longer service life. Its service life is 50,000 hours in theory and 20,000 hours in practice. During the entire life span of vehicles, users usually do not need to replace the LED lamps. The start time for LED lamps is only dozens of nanoseconds, much shorter than that of incandescent lamps. Thus, drivers can have more reaction time. LED stop lamps and directional lamps can directly convert the electric energy into optical energy under low drive current, showing upstanding environmental protection and energy saving effects. Its drive current is only 1/4 of that of incandescent lamps. With small size, LED can facilitate designers in changing the lamp shapes optionally to diversify the auto styles.
In recent years, with the improvement in brightness and reduction in cost, some auto LED lamps have achieved increasing application volume. In China, LED rear lamps have been adopted by Honda Accord, Crown, Reiz and Cadillac.