The light signature of new electric cars is often neat, but until now, one element could not be illuminated: the logo placed in its center. That will change from this year.
In a few years, chrome has become has-been. The new fashionable thing among manufacturers is the play of lights, to embellish the front grilles and the rear trunks of the models. Except that one major element could not light up: the brand logo. The European regulations in this area have evolved to authorize it from 1 January 2023.
It is true that more and more electric vehicles are incorporating LED strips that run the entire width of the vehicle to give a stylish effect. All that was missing was an illuminated logo in the center to complete this luminous signature.
Volkswagen could be the first to jump at the chance
The entire Volkswagen ID range is among the vehicles that have opted for long LED strips that emphasize both the rear and the front. The centrally positioned VW logo seems ready to light up already, when the daylight drops. Except that this is not yet the case on current models because of the regulations in place in Europe until the end of 2022.
Volkswagen could therefore be the first brand in Europe to illuminate its logo from 2023. In any case, this is what the brand told AFP on February 2, 2023.
A trend already visible in other countries and on the concept cars of several brands
Several recent concept cars have presented a visual element where the logo thus illuminated appears to be perfectly legitimate, without overdoing it. When it is well integrated, one can even wonder why this regulatory change did not occur sooner.
The brands will however have to respect a few rules, since the illuminated logo cannot exceed 100 cm², i.e. for example a logo of 10×10 cm.
Not all brands seem ready to take the leap of these new logos yet. Apparently, Renault or the Stellantis group did not plan to immediately integrate this possibility of series into their range. However, the Renault 4ever concept was equipped with it during the Paris Motor Show.
On the other hand, one wonders how certain manufacturers, who have replaced a badge/logo with the full name of their brand, in particular at the rear of the vehicle, could get away with this possibility. The BYD brand, for example, has affixed its full name in full “Build Your Dream” to the trunk, an element which cannot therefore be illuminated according to the regulations.
Given the way some brands have worked on their light signature in recent years, we think that change can happen very naturally. We hope, however, that it does not become anything big either, and that this lighting will be able to remain discreet at night, so as not to transform the car into an advertising panel on wheels. This is a bit of the risk of this change in regulations pushed by France and Germany at European level.
