Apart from these technical advantages, white LEDs offer totally new possibilities for vehicle front-end design. One example is demonstrated by the combined position and daytime running light in the new Audi A8 W12: Five white high-power LEDs per headlamp are arranged like the five spots on a dice. In both the daytime running light mode and the dimmed position light mode at night, they give the top A8 model an absolutely unmistakeable appearance. The light colour of the LEDs is the same as that of the xenon light which provides optimum road illumination via the bi-xenon module. In addition, a cornering light ensures more safety when turning at junctions or driving through tight bends.
The realization of this combined position and daytime running light is a first step on the way towards producing a headlamp in which dipped and main beam lights are also realized using LEDs. At the International Motor Show IAA 2003 in Frankfurt, Hella presented such prototypes to the general public for the first time. Due to their rapidly improving performance ability, white LEDs will account for an increasing share of automotive lighting by the year 2010.
Driving with lights on during the day is now compulsory in all Scandinavian countries and in some other European countries (such as Switzerland, Italy, Poland), and is also allowed in Germany. This is based on European legislation, in particular ECE Regulation R48, which has allowed the use of special daytime running lamps since 1995. Studies and field tests show that the number of fatal accidents could be reduced by 25 percent if daytime running lights were used.

About the company:

Hella - Ideas today for the cars of tomorrow
Light, electronics, complete vehicle modules, air conditioning systems, electrical distribution systems and signal processing for the automobile industry, as well as parts supplies to the aftermarket are the core business fields of the automotive supplier Hella KGaA Hueck & Co., with its corporate headquarters in Lippstadt. The consolidated turnover of the Hella group in the business year 2002/03 (May 31st) was 3.027 billion euros, 2.9% more than in the previous year. Hella is one of the 100 largest industrial companies in Germany. A total of 22,811 people are employed around the world in 61 manufacturing facilities, production subsidiaries and joint venture companies in 18 countries. More than 1,800 engineers and technicians work in Research and Development. Customers include all leading vehicle and system manufacturers as well as the automotive parts aftermarket.