Interior illumination is headed for big changes as new concepts and materials allow application of lighting to create mood, communicate information and enhance safety.
Speed, innovation and flexibility will be required as suppliers look to meet rapid changes in the automotive sector and survive the next downturn, industry insiders say.
In an address to the WardsAuto Interiors Conference, Cadillac’s Andrew Smith says connectivity will compel designers to think differently about innovation.
Lectra is looking to be a major disrupter in the automotive leather supply chain with a combination of 3D CAD and digital cutting technology. (See related story: Lectra Aims to Disrupt Auto Leather Value Chain.)
Student finalists from the College for Creative Studies compete to design a vehicle interior for the year 2030. (See complete coverage: 2015 WardsAuto Interiors Student Design Competition.)
More BMW i offerings appear to be in the pipeline, too. Asked if the automaker has plans for models beyond the i3 and i8, Girard answers coyly, “There are a lot of numbers between three and eight.”