[News] NIO ET9 Equipped with Micro LED Headlights

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On December 21, NIO officially unveiled its flagship luxury sedan, the ET9, during the NIO Day 2024 event.

In terms of lighting, the ET9 features advanced Micro LED smart pixelated headlights integrated with the Aquila 2.0 supersensory system, enabling precise lighting effects. The headlights also include smart tracking light carpets and intersection blind spot warnings, while the lane marking highlight function helps drivers better identify lane lines at night.

Increasing Adoption of Micro LED Headlights

As automotive intelligence progresses, lighting technology is advancing toward pixelated headlights, with main solutions including DLP (Digital Light Processing) and Micro LED technologies. Although Micro LED pixel headlights are still in their early stages and not yet widely adopted, they outperform DLP in brightness, reliability, size, and weight. Especially with large-scale production, Micro LED offers greater cost optimization potential, promising a future of smarter and more customized automotive lighting experiences.

In addition to the NIO ET9, vehicles such as the Volkswagen Tiguan L Pro, Touareg (top trims), and Porsche Cayenne have also adopted Micro LED headlights. The Buick Wildcat concept car showcases Micro LED technology, achieving ultra-thin headlight designs.

LED Companies Accelerate Micro LED Headlight Development

In 2024, the LED industry has seen significant developments related to Micro LED headlights. BOE HC Semitek showcased its first Micro LED ADB matrix pixel headlight module.

NationStar Optoelectronics also exhibited a pixelated Micro LED headlight using bonding technology. The light source features over 40,000 LED units with a pixel pitch of just 40 micrometers, delivering high-resolution imaging effects.

At the Shanghai Auto Lamp Exhibition, ams OSRAM unveiled its EVIYOS 2.0 high-pixel projection headlights, integrating 25,600 individually controllable Micro LEDs.

In February, Marelli introduced a new Micro LED headlight module with 25,600 pixels, weighing only 600g, with lens dimensions of 40x50mm and an illumination aspect ratio of 1:4. This module has already been adopted by leading new energy vehicle brands. Previously, Marelli collaborated with ams OSRAM to launch the h-Digi module based on EVIYOS 2.0.

In January, CHIPFOUNDATION announced a major breakthrough in matrix Micro LED headlight chips. Innovations in core technologies and patent applications have improved Micro LED chip brightness. Chemical peeling technology achieved damage-free GaN pixel transfer, and prismatic microstructures on pixel surfaces enhanced light output uniformity.

To meet the demand for ten-thousand-pixel matrix headlights and in-car HUDs, San’an Optoelectronics developed a blue light Micro LED epitaxial structure, achieving external quantum efficiency exceeding 20% at 1000A/cm².

In May, JHETECH Optoelectronics’ Micro LED headlight project successfully signed with Taizhou, Zhejiang Province, China. With a total investment of 1 billion yuan, the project will establish a smart headlight control system research and production base.

Leveraging Micro LED technology from Shanghai University’s School of Microelectronics, it plans to build an advanced CHIPLET packaging and testing production line to advance domestic digital headlight chip production.

According to TrendForce, the introduction of Micro LED pixel arrays for adaptive headlights will dramatically increase pixel counts to 100,000, enabling precise digital control.

Higher pixel density allows more flexible adjustment of illumination areas, enhancing driving safety and meeting diverse regional regulatory requirements. This helps headlight manufacturers reduce costs related to development, production, and logistics for different markets.

TrendForce also predicts that the penetration rate of adaptive headlights (ADB) is expected to reach 21.7% by 2028. This growth reflects strong market demand for intelligent lighting technologies and presents significant opportunities for headlight manufacturers, driving the industry toward greater efficiency and intelligence.

 

(Photo credit: NIO)