FORVIA HELLA Receives Zhilu Award in China for Sustainable Exterior Lighting

• The innovative solution integrates innovative design, outstanding performance, and sustainable concepts
• The award was presented by the well-known Chinese media outlet, Auto Observer

Shanghai, 2 September 2025. International automotive supplier FORVIA HELLA has been awarded the prestigious Zhilu Award by the leading local media outlet Auto Observer, in recognition of the innovative design, outstanding performance, and sustainability of its sustainable exterior lighting. This innovative solution can achieve around 50% weight reduction without increasing costs, while reducing CO₂ emissions by up to 70% across the product’s entire lifecycle.

We are pleased to receive recognition from local industry media for FORVIA HELLA’s innovative technology. This award is a powerful endorsement of our strength in technological innovation and our unwavering commitment to sustainable development", says Rengsong Fu, Director of Business Group Lighting Program Management Headlamp and Rear Lamp in the Asia-Pacific Region at FORVIA HELLA. "The Chinese market is a key driver of global automotive industry innovation and sustainability. Our sustainable exterior lighting solutions – featuring lightweight materials, optimized product architecture, dynamic light intensity adjustment, and a circular economy approach – empower local automakers to achieve Scope 3 emission reduction targets while maintaining cost neutrality, design excellence, and high performance."

In April, FORVIA HELLA unveiled the holistic concept of sustainable exterior lighting at the Shanghai Auto Show for the first time. The ready-to-use design fulfills customers’ dual expectations for sustainability and cost efficiency. With highly flexible lighting modules and advanced technology, the solution ensures uncompromised safety and functionality, while overall energy consumption is significantly reduced through energy-saving hardware and adaptive lighting features.

For the headlamp, FORVIA HELLA achieved uncompromised safety and performance by leveraging the flexibility of its main light modules and integrating our newly developed energy-efficient lighting module, which can deliver an 80% increase in optical efficiency compared to a standard lighting module. Supported by water-cooling systems, the modules enhance energy efficiency and reduce housing volume by up to 15% each. For a homogeneous light appearance and invisible module movement, lighting modules are hidden behind a static optical layer on the cover lens.

FORVIA HELLA’s sustainable rear lamp features a minimized size and compact design, developed with full compliance for worldwide legal usage. The lighting unit is easily accessible, allowing for upgrades, repairs, and recycling, which supports extended product life and resource conservation. FORVIA HELLA utilizes its ultra-compact FlatLight technology, which incorporates customizable graphics on the optics to meet high styling demands while maintaining efficiency.