As electric vehicles (EV) gain traction, the demand for LEDs is likely to gain momentum as traditional lights draw more energy from the drivetrain. With its wide rand of LED products, Osram is all set to meet this surge in demand for LEDs. Osram, with more than 110 years of experience in lighting industry, has been at the forefront in developing products to meeting evolving needs of automotive industry. While 50 per cent of cars globally are fitted with Osram lights, in India, 65 per cent of passenger vehicles use its lights. Avinder Singh, Chief Executive Officer, Osram India Pvt Ltd, interacted with Rakesh Rao to shed more light on the trends in automotive lighting industry and the company’s growth plans in India.
As a leading player in automotive lighting industry, could you please share your experience on emerging trends in the market?
Modern, innovative and intelligent automotive lighting is a global mega-trend. Increasing technical advances in lighting inspire motorists to seek out the latest innovations. Enhanced performance, improved security, and a memorable design are the focal points of automotive lighting trends and research. And Osram, as the world's largest lighting supplier to the automotive industry, is at the forefront of technological developments. In the OEM business, you will find new applications such as laser lighting for high beam or ADB lighting for low beam (mostly in premium cars). Also, OLED (organic LED) will be used in some rearlighting applications. In the AFTM business, we see a worldwide switch towards LED lighting solutions as well, especially in additional lighting applications (eg fog lights, day time running lights).
What will be the effect of rise in usage of LEDs on automotive lighting system? How is your company tapping this opportunity?
As global market leader, we are always working on improving our existing products (also in the traditional area) and developing new products based on SSL (solid state lighting) technologies such as LED. We offer a wide range of products for external and internal applications, for example, our color changing LED ambient lights for internal lighting and different LED products for external lighting.
The government is pushing for energy efficient vehicles and lighting system will have a role to play in this shift. How geared up is your company for it?
Our goal is to offer our customers the specific lighting solutions they are looking for – based on traditional and SSL technologies. One of several advantages that LED lighting system offers is the reduction in power required to perform the same functions. For energy efficient vehicles, Osram has SSL technologies like LED to manage the transition quickly.In India, for example, we have an own OEM qualified production for traditional automotive products.
What is the future for traditional and halogen lamps in automotives?
Due to an increasing car park worldwide, there is a huge demand for traditional lighting products (halogen and HID). Also in very price sensitive countries you can find an immense market for traditional products (especially halogen).
On the aftermarket side, are you seeing increase in competition from unorganised players? How do you intend to grow your marketshare in this space?
We operate in a market space wherein we compete with organised players. Within this space, we would be focusing on 2-wheeler (2W) segment and VAP. We are also working on the expansion of distribution network especially for SSL technologies like LED.
What are your growth plans for India in terms of new products and technologies?
Our focus would be LED lighting for 4W and 2W segments as per the market trend.Traditional segment of halogen and HID lamps will continue to have our careful attention depending upon the consumer interest.