Faurecia Redefines itself as Forvia at CES

Faurecia and HELLA jointly presented their vision for the future publicly for the first time at CES as FORVIA, and then revealed more than a dozen new technologies.

Drew Winter, Contributing Editor

January 9, 2023

4 Min Read
Forvia_Lighting
Forvia's world-first solid-state high-definition headlamps can define width of vehicle with driving path illumination.Forvia

LAS VEGAS – French auto supplier Faurecia has been known as a major provider of automotive interiors for years, but lately it has been expanding beyond this niche and taking big positions related to key megatrends that are driving the mobility industry: electrification, automated driving, personalized cockpits and sustainability.

Acquiring lighting supplier HELLA last year underscored this mission, leading the company to change its name to FORVIA and redefine itself as a bigger, broader company that now is the world’s seventh-largest automotive supplier. Faurecia and HELLA jointly presented their vision for the future publicly for the first time at CES as FORVIA, and then revealed more than a dozen new technologies related to the group’s leadership in user experience, sustainable materials, energy and weight saving, upgradability, recyclability and circular economy design.

FORVIA says these technologies will illustrate its commitment to becoming carbon-neutral across all operations and products by 2045.

“CES is the ideal stage for us to present our transformed group poised for strong value creation and capitalization of automotive growth trends in electrification, automated driving and cockpit personalization,” says Patrick Koller, CEO of Faurecia.

“The group is actively implementing new architectures and materials into the coming product generations, while helping our automaker partners achieve their net-zero goals. Our innovation displays show the complementary technologies of Faurecia and HELLA within our diversified, balanced portfolio and emphasize our vision for sustainable future mobility that matter to people.”

Among the technologies showcased at CES:

  • Sustainable Materials. In October 2022 FORVIA launched MATERI’ACT to accelerate the development of advanced materials with low and ultra-low CO2 footprints. The company’s ambition is to achieve 85% CO2 reduction by 2030 by utilizing a clear path from feedstock to sustainable materials and fostering its cutting-edge technologies with numerous strong industry partnerships. 

  • World's first solid-state high-definition headlamp. A CES 2023 Innovation Award recipient. The technology offers the ability to project digital symbols in front of the vehicle that can define vehicle width within a construction zone or driving path illumination. The technology will debut on a soon-to-be announced vehicle within the first quarter of 2023.

  • Zero-emission multiple-powertrain platform. It features technologies capable of supporting fuel-cell electric, battery-electric, and hybrid-electric propulsion systems. Displayed on a unique BEV platform, it demonstrates how FORVIA can support multiple future powertrain architectures without compromising quality or performance.

  • State-of-the-art hydrogen storage system. It features an innovative prismatic composite structure that achieves 40% more storage capacity for greater autonomy compared with cylindrical tanks. As one of the industry pioneers in hydrogen storage-system development, FORVIA says it is prepared to deliver next-generation solutions to help automakers address critical zero-emission and fuel-cell integration challenges.

  • High-voltage electric vehicle energy and thermal management. These technologies include FORVIA’s coolant-control hub, high-density onboard charger, high-voltage DC/DC converter and lightweight, scalable battery-management systems designed to maximize efficiency and reduce size, complexity and cost.  

  • Green High Dynamic Range (HDR) builds off FORVIA’s market-first Perceptual Display Platform technology by enabling automatic image enhancement, energy saving and lifetime upgrading on any type of display hardware making it an ideal solution for electric vehicle manufacturers looking for battery-optimized high-end display systems.

  • Zonal module for state-of-the-art E/E architecture. This module ensures intelligent power and data distribution with highest safety for an electrified powertrain, thanks to a world-first eFuse technology ensuring fail-operational power for automated driving. 

  • Safe & Automated Driving. This technology features best-in-class sensors, perceptive software, and data fusion, along with fail-operational electronics for steering and braking. With both radar and camera, FORVIA says its solutions include interior child-presence detection and driver distraction and drowsiness monitoring.

  • Reactive Dimming makes its world debut at CES as a combination of gaze monitoring with smart dimming applied on an eMirror that will help to reduce cognitive load, driver distraction and fatigue.

  • Dynamic Lighting with superior styling. It provides up to 80% reduction in energy consumption compared with conventional taillights, and digital, flexible integration options configurable for automaker-specific design needs, including the Digital Headlamp Solid State Lighting High-Definition.

  • Smart Presence Detection builds upon FORVIA’s ultra-wideband Smart Car Access system with advanced functionality for child and intrusion detection.

Personalized Experiences in Digital Sustainable Cockpit Technologies

  • Cabin Centerpiece “Lumières” demonstrates FORVIA’s versatile “Third Place” cockpit design. It offers an innovative and customized mobility experience between front and rear seats that creates an “at home” environment through reconfigurable seats and an integrated bookshelf, reading lamp and individualized sound headrests. The cabin centerpiece achieves 45% CO2 emissions reductions through lightweight architectures, sustainable materials, and energy-optimized electronics. It features world premieres of groundbreaking exterior lighting solutions, and a gaze-based intuitive human-machine interface on multiple driving displays, integrated with brake-by-wire functionalities.

  • Modular and Sustainable Seating and Interiors showcase recyclable, bio-sourced materials, extended lifecycle usage, and customized comfort options to create an ideal occupant experience. World premiere technologies include Modular Seat Architecture, which offers a simplified, flexible, and upgradable design and compact seat structure that improves BEV battery space and creates a more comfortable passenger experience.

  • Digital mobility experience and connected services highlight digital continuity from home to car with FORVIA’s Aptoide App Store, game and news center, and the ability to upgrade a vehicle over-the-air with a wide set of FORVIA services. Reactive dimming and immersive display also offer a safe and new digital experience to the driver.

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About the Author

Drew Winter

Contributing Editor, WardsAuto

Drew Winter is a former longtime editor and analyst for Wards. He writes about a wide range of topics including emerging cockpit technology, new materials and supply chain business strategies. He also serves as a judge in both the Wards 10 Best Engines and Propulsion Systems awards and the Wards 10 Best Interiors & UX awards and as a juror for the North American Car, Utility and Truck of the Year awards.

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