PLYMOUTH, Mich., April 8, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- HELLA KGaA Hueck & Co., a global supplier of automotive lighting and electronic products, has won the prestigious 2014 Automotive News PACE Award for its industry-first adaptive LED Matrix Beam technology.

A leader in automotive lighting and electronics, HELLA's "glare-free high-beam" headlights use individually controlled LEDs that adjust automatically to real-time traffic conditions to reduce glare for other drivers. 

The new Matrix Beam system combines a front camera, high-performance software and "intelligent lighting" technology to recognize cars that are being followed as well as oncoming traffic. 

The system automatically adjusts a car's headlamps to deliver "glare free" illumination, dimming or switching on and off light sources based on traffic conditions.  Individually controlled LEDs also provide two or more dark zones with "light in-between," allowing continuous use of a vehicle's high-beams to maximize visibility and provide a safer driving experience.

An industry first, HELLA's system utilizes 25 individually controlled LEDs arranged in a matrix format to provide car owners with an almost unlimited variety of lighting patterns. Audi became the first car company to introduce matrix lighting on its recently launched Audi A8.    

LEDs are widely accepted in the industry as alternative light sources, supplying a variety of advantages when compared to traditional technologies such as halogen or xenon lighting. LED lighting imitates natural sunlight better than other light sources and can help reduce driver fatigue.  It also can provide more "robust" solutions that don't depend on mechanical parts and are more durable than conventional lighting systems.

HELLA has participated in a number of previous PACE Award programs. In 2012, the company was recognized as a finalist for its Multi-Chip Module (MCM) oil sensing technology.  Earlier nominations included full light-emitting diode (LED) headlamps in 2009 and an honorable mention in for its lane-change-assist technology in 2008. 

HELLA was one of the 34 nominees for a 2014 PACE Award recognized in this year's award program.

Note to Editors: Award photos are available on request.

About HELLA KGaA Hueck & Co.:

HELLA KGaA Hueck & Co. is a globally positioned, independent family-owned company with more than 30,000 employees at 100 locations in more than 35 countries. The HELLA Group develops and manufactures lighting and electronic components and systems for the automotive industry and also has one of the largest trade organizations for automotive parts, accessories, diagnosis and services within Europe. Complete vehicle modules, air-conditioning systems and vehicle electrical systems are produced in joint venture companies. With more than 5,500 people working in research and development, HELLA is one of the most important innovation drivers in the market. What's more, with sales of € 5.0 billion in fiscal year 2012/2013, the HELLA Group is one of the top 50 automotive parts suppliers in the world and one of the 100 largest German industrial companies.

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SOURCE HELLA KGaA Hueck & Co.