In dashboards, door panels, center consoles, air vents, footwells, storage compartments, and even integrated cup holders – modern vehicles can illuminate almost every area.
While the first applications of ambient lighting in vehicle interiors were initially found in luxury cars, from the early 2000s onwards, interior lighting gradually developed from a purely functional light source to an integral part of interior design and HMI interaction.
The basic idea behind ambient lighting is to enhance the appearance of the vehicle interior and create a pleasant, harmonious lighting atmosphere. Soft lighting accents create a more luxurious feeling of space, making the interior appear more modern, comfortable, and emotive. At the same time, ambient lighting can help drivers to see contours and controls more clearly without disturbing them with bright light. Well-coordinated interior lighting contributes to a more relaxed driving experience, especially when driving at night. Studies show that low color temperatures tend to increase the feeling of comfort, while higher temperatures improve alertness – both of which are crucial factors for road safety.
In fact, lighting that is too bright, incorrectly positioned, or varies greatly in color can naturally be distracting, especially when driving at night. If the lighting is not discreetly coordinated, it can impair the driver's concentration.
This is a particular problem for suppliers: as the number of possible applications in the vehicle interior increases, so does the technical complexity. Standard solutions with individual LED strips are no longer sufficient.
To compensate for these disadvantages, we at Preh see modern ambient lighting as much more than just a design element in the vehicle interior. Light becomes an integral part of a holistic human-machine interface (HMI) – not only for interaction, but also for active integration into functional and safety-related systems. Targeted lighting effects can provide the driver with intuitive support tailored to the situation. Ambient lighting helps prevent fatigue and gently activates the driver. At the same time, safety-related warnings – such as blind spot, lane departure, or fatigue warnings – can be displayed visually. This visual communication also works reliably when acoustic signals are drowned out by a noisy vehicle interior, music, or conversations. In this way, light becomes an additional, ever-present channel of information that improves perception and shortens reaction times. Ambient lighting thus takes on a functional role within safety-oriented vehicle systems and supports intuitive, cognitive relief for the driver.
The holistic approach combines design, function, and safety: light in the vehicle interior is no longer just an aesthetic stylistic device, but a central component of an integrated HMI concept for the mobility of tomorrow.
Functional advantages of ambient lighting
The video “Advanced Ambient Lighting Technology” demonstrates how modern ambient lighting in the vehicle interior enhances both interior atmosphere and functional safety. It begins with a sweep through a futuristic cabin, where display areas, accent trims, and sculpted surfaces are illuminated by precisely controlled LEDs. While discreet LEDs create uniform light zones, matrix LEDs are used for curved and complex surfaces, enabling dynamic lighting effects.
A key highlight is the demonstration of functional ambient lighting: red illumination appears in specific areas to visualize a blind‑spot warning. This clearly shows how ambient lighting can support safety‑relevant driver alerts and enrich situational awareness.
The video then provides a detailed look at the 3D lighting concept. An exploded view breaks the model into its individual components, illustrating how modern surface LED lighting is constructed. The following elements are shown:
In the final sequence, the components merge back together, revealing the fully assembled 3D lighting system as implemented in today’s advanced vehicle interiors.
The Preh Advanced Light Concept opens up new dimensions in vehicle interiors. Here, light guides combined with special light sources and control electronics create impressive 3D depth effects – without the use of displays. This approach offers new possibilities for brand customization and user guidance in the interior, especially against the backdrop of the increasing need for differentiation in vehicle interior design.
The Preh Advanced Light Concept is based not only on design aspects, but also on technical precision and efficient series integration.
Another innovative leap forward in ambient lighting is the implementation of Matrix LED arrangements in vehicle interiors. Unlike classic, linear LED solutions, Matrix LEDs enable flat, segmentable lighting scenarios. These regularly arranged LED structures offer flexible and interactive design of lighting zones – ideal for individual interior lighting design.
However, integrating such matrix systems is complex. Multi-layer, three-dimensionally shaped circuit boards are required if they are to be used in door panels or under curved dashboard surfaces, for example. At the same time, the LEDs within the matrix must be controlled individually by means of a clocked BUS system – while ensuring completely homogeneous color rendering across the entire surface.
Such challenges require optimal coordination of electronics and mechanics in the most confined of spaces. Only through optimized thermal management and highly integrated control electronics can cost-efficient, production-ready solutions be developed. This makes the ability to seamlessly integrate electronics and mechanics a key competence in the development of modern lighting systems.
