Laser light for headlights

The BMW i8 and Audi R8 LMX, which were released almost simultaneously, were the first car models to use laser headlights. Osram is deeply involved in the development of innovative laser technology. The new lighting trend has opened up a new perspective for the design and performance of car headlights.

Laser light is an absolute innovation in automotive lighting and the next big step forward since the introduction of halogen, xenon, and LED headlight technologies. This lighting trend opens up completely new horizons in the design and performance of headlights.

In the future, headlights can be designed to be much smaller and more efficient with laser light.

Laser diodes are particularly impressive due to their small size: One laser diode generates an almost punctiform luminous flux on a few thousandths of a millimeter.

The brightness is already today almost four times that of an LED. This means that headlights can be made even smaller in the future – without compromising on light intensity.

The primary benefit for drivers is that these headlights will have the longest range provided by any current headlight technology. This offers the driver improved visibility, resulting in increased road traffic safety.

BMW i8, Audi R8 LMX, and the new BMW 7 Series: first series production vehicles with laser full beam

The BMW i8 and the Audi R8 LMX were launched almost at the same time as the first series production vehicles with laser headlights. In 2015, the new BMW 7 Series followed. OSRAM was heavily involved here as the system partner: The laser full beam is based on developments by OSRAM Specialty Lighting. As a result of this laser technology, the full beam of these vehicles have a range of up to 600 meters - double the distance of the current standard LED headlights.