LG Innotek, a LG Group company focussing on automotive radar and lighting solutions among others, has been awarded the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) Innovation Award, for its vehicle lighting technology.

On 21 November 2024, LG Innotek announced that its 'Nexlide A+ automotive lighting module' received the CES 2025 Innovation Award from the Consumer Technology Association (CTA) in the United States.

The CTA recognises products and services of exhibitors that stand out for their technology, aesthetics, and innovation.

The 'Nexlide A+' is a product in LG Innotek's Nexlide series, a brand focussing on automotive lighting solutions. It is said to be the first lighting module in the industry to apply a surface light source to the front lighting module of a vehicle.

LG Innotek said that unlike typical point light sources, a surface light source emits light evenly across the entire surface. It has secured more than 700 patents related to the technology.

For a vehicle lighting module using a conventional point light source to achieve a similar effect to a surface light source, a separate component is required to spread the light from the point light source evenly, such as a light guide. In addition, the air gap, which is a layer of air required for light diffusion, needs to be thicker.

The front lighting module, due to being located at the front of the vehicle, is exposed to high temperatures and needs to be equipped with a heat dissipation structure to remove heat. This makes existing point light source products bulky, which limits design flexibility.

In comparison, the 'Nexlide A+' uses LG Innotek's unique surface light source technology to produce uniform brightness without such additional components, which also makes the module 40 percent slimmer than the existing product. This allows for efficient space utilisation and greater flexibility in vehicle design.

In addition, the company has further improved heat dissipation performance by applying high heat-resistant resin coating and film technology. The brightness has also been increased fivefold compared to conventional rear-facing lighting products, meeting the global legal standard of 500cd (candela, a unit representing the brightness of a light source) for daytime running lights (DRLs).

Till date, the company has completed more than 140 projects with domestic and foreign automotive brands and accumulated more than 150 orders. Over the past 10 years, it has recorded an average annual sales growth rate of 47 percent.

Looking ahead, LG Innotek plans to expand its lineup of rear-lighting modules to include front-lighting models. By 2025, the company also aims to develop ‘pixel lighting’ technology, which features small, three-dimensional lights arranged in a grid-like pattern. This advancement it expects to facilitate communication between vehicles(V2V) and pedestrians(V2P) enhancing safety and interaction.

Moon Hyuksoo, CEO, LG Innotek, said, "LG Innotek is solidifying its position in the global market as a total solution provider of future mobility components. With innovative products, we will grow the automotive lighting module business into a trillion-dollar industry by 2030, delivering unique value to our customers."

In January, LG Innotek will present a range of differentiated products at CES 2025, including the 'Nexlide A+' and other vehicle lighting modules as well as LiDAR (Light Detection Ranging) and sensing components for autonomous driving applications.

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drivebuddyAI has been granted a patent for its Integrated Dynamic Road Quality Assessment System and Method. The technology autonomously detects and maps road surface deterioration, including potholes and hazardous conditions, by combining sensor data with deep learning-based computer vision.

The system utilises two data streams to evaluate road conditions. A GNSS sensor logs vehicle speed and geo-location, while an Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) accelerometer captures changes across the X, Y and Z axes.

In real-time it detects anomalies, which are flagged when the Z-axis acceleration indicates a road defect. To prevent false detections, the system processes video data through a deep learning model to visually confirm the defect. Verified data is geo-tagged to create a dynamic road quality map that updates as fresh data is collected from active fleets.

The patented technology aims to provide a road quality intelligence layer for navigation, moving beyond standard metrics of distance and traffic. For fleet operators, poor road surfaces affect Turnaround Time (TAT) by increasing braking frequency, vehicle wear and the risk of cargo damage.

By integrating road quality data into route planning, dispatchers can select paths based on vehicle and cargo safety rather than just the shortest distance. The system is designed to operate without human intervention, building a dataset as vehicles traverse their routes.

This grant expands drivebuddyAI’s portfolio to over 15 patents covering ADAS, DMS, and AI perception systems. These include technologies for driver recognition, drowsiness detection, and risk assessment. The systems are validated under AIS184, EU2144/2019 & 2023, and EURO NCAP 2026 standards.

Nisarg Pandya, Founder & CEO, drivebuddyAI, said, “We are building AI that solves multiple problems at once. Road quality is not a standalone problem; it sits at the intersection of driver safety, cargo protection, and fleet efficiency. This patent is our answer to a gap that the industry has long ignored: knowing not just where you are going, but what the road ahead will do to your vehicle and your cargo and its impact on TAT.”

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Marquardt, a supplier of mechatronic systems, has launched a concept vehicle, ‘The Centum’, to demonstrate the integration of functional controls into automotive surfaces. The project involved a collaboration with E Ink and Covestro to develop a door interior panel that embeds a responsive display within synthetic materials.

The project aimed to maintain the tactile properties of polyurethane (PU)-coated textiles while enabling a colour-changing display to remain invisible until activated. This supports industry trends toward backlit surfaces and integrated control elements.

The display technology uses E Ink, which provides a low-energy, durable electronic paper display designed for automotive environments. For coating, Covestro has developed a transparent film using INSQIN waterborne PU technology. The coating uses Impranil DLC-F, a waterborne polyurethane dispersion used in automotive topcoats.

The resulting material retains the texture of standard automotive textiles while allowing the underlying display colors to remain visible through the coating.

Felix Hake, Head of Innovation, Marquardt, said, “With The Centum, we wanted to demonstrate how intelligent functions can be integrated into interior surfaces without compromising design or quality. Working with E Ink and Covestro allowed us to create a material solution that combines a premium tactile experience with responsive visual effects.”

Dr Torsten Pohl, Global Head of Textile Coatings, Covestro, added, “This project highlights the versatility of INSQIN PU technology and Impranil DLC-F. By developing a transparent, automotive-grade PU coated synthetic compatible with E Ink displays, we were able to support Marquardt in integrating dynamic functionality into familiar surface materials.”

Pete Valianatos, Senior Director, E Ink, said, “Our e-paper display technology is designed to deliver dynamic visual experiences with low power consumption, while maintaining the robustness required for demanding applications. Collaborating with Marquardt and Covestro has enabled us to demonstrate how E Ink displays can be integrated behind coated interior surfaces, allowing automotive designers to introduce adaptive colour features without changing the established look and feel of premium materials.

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Yazaki Innovations Inc (YII), the technology subsidiary of Yazaki Corporation, has announced the appointment of Manish Mehta as its new CEO and President.

Mehta has been a long-time associate of Yazaki Corporation and has spent over two and half decades with the organisation. He had joined the company as an Engineer Manager in 2001, and grew to the ranks of Vice-President Corporate Planning and Strategy in 2021.

He joined the company’s board of directors in 2023, and is now responsible for leading YII, which focusses on the integration of the parent company’s global product portfolio, manufacturing assets and product development with an approach to innovation.

The subsidiary is tasked with developing technologies across several industrial and transport segments. Its remit includes the engineering and development of solutions for the following areas:

• Mobility: Electric vehicles, autonomous vehicles, and Electric Vertical Take-off & Landing (eVTOL) aircraft.
• Industrial & Infrastructure: Aerospace, construction and agriculture equipment and PreFab Home Wiring.
• Specialised Engineering: Off-road and specialty vehicles, alongside advanced manufacturing processes.

The organisation aims to combine Yazaki Corporation’s business assets with a methodology designed to address trending technologies in these sectors.

"I am pleased to announce my new role as CEO & President of Yazaki Innovations Inc (YII). Yazaki Innovations is the disruptive technology subsidiary of Yazaki Corporation, integrating the best attributes and strengths of the company’s global product portfolio, product development, manufacturing, and business assets with a quick, agile approach to innovation. This is an exciting opportunity, and I look forward to collaborating with internal and external partners to contribute to the future growth of Yazaki," said Mehta.

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TSUYO Manufacturing Pvt Ltd has appointed Naveen Kumar Amar as Senior Vice President of Finance, effective 1 April 2026. Recognised as a global finance power leader, Amar brings over 20 years of expertise in financial strategy, corporate governance and operational efficiency within capital-intensive industries. His arrival marks a strategic move as the company accelerates growth in the EV powertrain sector.

Before joining TSUYO, Amar was CFO at SpiceXpress, where he led financial restructuring, cost optimisation and drove digitisation projects. He also managed international and domestic fundraising across equity and debt. At TSUYO, he will oversee financial planning, capital allocation, and governance as the company scales manufacturing and deepens EV powertrain investments.

The company recently secured Single Window Clearance from Karnataka Government for a proposed 20-acre EV Powertrain Campus in the Dharwad–Hubli region, a hub for design, testing and production. Last month, TSUYO launched next generation electric motor technologies for India’s light commercial vehicle market, emphasising modular design, deep engineering and Make in India innovation.

The leadership team welcomed Amar, stating his appointment strengthens alignment of capital strategy with long term objectives. TSUYO is also investing in advanced manufacturing infrastructure and localisation of key EV components to reduce import reliance and bolster the domestic EV ecosystem.

Amar said, “I am excited to join Tsuyo at a crucial moment in its growth journey, as the company scales its manufacturing capabilities and strengthens its position in India’s evolving electric mobility ecosystem. With experience across diverse, capital-intensive sectors, I see immense opportunity in building a financially disciplined, execution-focused organisation that can sustain high growth over the long term. The company’s focus on the convergence of deep technology, localisation and large-scale manufacturing presents a unique platform for creating enduring value. I look forward to partnering with the leadership team to enable Tsuyo’s ambition of becoming a globally acclaimed EV powertrain company."

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