Philips innovations making vehicles safer, more energy-efficient and more stylish

Frankfurt, Germany - The automotive lighting industry is undergoing radical transformation. More and more people seek to become and remain mobile. At the same time, there are growing legislative pressures, for instance to reduce the environmental impact of motoring and to increase safety, as evidenced by the recent EU legislation making Daytime Running Lights (DRL) mandatory. Vehicle makers also have to serve increasingly diverse needs with consumer tastes ranging, from functional economy cars to luxury vehicles. And new technologies – such as Philips’ cutting-edge LED technology – are changing the face of automotive design and performance.



At the Automechanika fair in Frankfurt, Philips is introducing four new innovations that reflect the company’s belief in simply enhancing people’s lives on the road – with smart solutions that make vehicles safer, more energy-efficient and more stylish.



LED DayLight 4 and LED DayLight 8
EU legislation stipulates that all new car models must be equipped with daylights as of 2011 to improve their visibility on the road. Tests have shown that by implementing this measure it could safe 1200 to 2000 fatalities per year in Europe. Therefore, all new cars will have to be equipped with daylight lighting from 2011 onwards, making them more visible for upcoming traffic. To address the safety needs of the cars currently on the market, Philips DayLight range offers retrofit solutions, and enables drivers to benefit from the safety of DRL right now.



Dominiek Plancke – General Manager Automotive- stated “Philips simply enhances life with light by meeting people’s needs for a safer and more comfortable driving experience during the day and at night. EU norms for automotive lighting oblige all new cars to have daylights: to make current cars as visible as new ones, Philips’ new DayLights solutions addresses these requirements perfectly, applying bright, white LED lighting to increase definition and contrast as well as delivering greater energy efficiency”.



The two new versions of Philips’ Daytime Running Light ensure that cars in traffic are better visible to oncoming vehicles and pedestrians, making the driver feel safer and more relaxed. DayLight 4 ensures high visibility for safer daytime driving, while the innovative DayLight 8 offers motorists maximum visibility and premium design - even during the night. Both lighting solutions enable CO2 savings of 5.5 g per km, while their long lifetime reduces the need for maintenance.



BlueVision ultra
Philips continues to set the pace in the high-performance, style-conscious ‘blue’ segment. The new BlueVision ultra replacement lamp is the only homologated lamp in the market providing bright white light together with a high-end stylish blue effect for a Xenon effect experience.



Not only does this new lighting enhances safety, it also looks stunning – an important consideration as motorists want their cars to have a distinctive lighting appearance that sets them apart from the crowd.



X-treme Vision
The new X-treme Vision replacement light bulb for night-time driving provides 100% more light compared to a standard lamp, X-treme Vision outperforms its awarded predecessor X-Treme Power, and delivers a comfortable light output,. By ensuring maximum visibility, X-treme Vision prevents the stress, anxiety and fatigue people often feel while driving at night with not enough light.



These are the 4 latest additions to the innovative line-up of Philips LED DRL and 12V automotive halogen lamps. Philips is the choice of all major car manufacturers in Automotive Lighting providing an unrivalled original equipment quality choice for car drivers.

Availability:



The Philips X-Treme Vision, BlueVision ultra, LED DayLight 4 and LED DayLight 8 will be available from authorized Philips distributors and retailers from October 1st 2010.

About Royal Philips Electronics

Royal Philips Electronics of the Netherlands (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHI) is a diversified health and well-being company, focused on improving people’s lives through timely innovations. As a world leader in healthcare, lifestyle and lighting, Philips integrates technologies and design into people-centric solutions, based on fundamental customer insights and the brand promise of “sense and simplicity”. Headquartered in the Netherlands, Philips employs more than 116,000 employees in more than 60 countries worldwide. With sales of EUR 23 billion in 2009, the company is a market leader in cardiac care, acute care and home healthcare, energy efficient lighting solutions and new lighting applications, as well as lifestyle products for personal well-being and pleasure with strong leadership positions in flat TV, male shaving and grooming, portable entertainment and oral healthcare. News from Philips is located at www.newscenter.philips.com/main.