Automotive lighting is undergoing a revolution. Not only are High Intensity Discharge (HID) and Light Emitting Diode (LED) light sources now being widely used but car lighting systems are also becoming increasingly intelligent. This "intelligence" ranges from headlights that swivel to "see" around corners to brake lights that illuminate by varying degrees, depending on how quickly the car is slowing.

Additionally, interior lighting is now being viewed by designers as having an important impact on the interior ambience of a car and so is being given the attention previously reserved for picking interior trim specifications.