Soon car logos appeared on our roads

Say goodbye to radiators, make way for new lights: the switch to electric changes the face of cars with bright logos.

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From January 1, 2023, manufacturers have the right to illuminate the central logo or two logos on the left and right sides, on the front grill but also on the rear trunk of the vehicles.

Following a proposal from France and Germany, this development was approved in 2022 by the Forum for the Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations, which is based on the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE).

Some models sold in China or North America by Mercedes, for example, already have logos that describe the brand even at night.

It’s not a question of turning cars into excessive advertising mediums: for now only the car brand’s logo shines. And its size is limited to 100 square centimeters.

Volkswagen wants to be one of the first manufacturers to break into Europe “from 2023”, the German manufacturer told AFP.

Many VW models, from the Golf to the Electric ID range, already feature a light bar at the front, which just lacks the logo.

At the Paris Motor Show in October 2022, and then at the CES show in Las Vegas in early January, Renault, Peugeot and RAM presented concept cars with bright logos.

But neither the Stellantis Group, which owns 14 brands including Fiat, Chrysler, Peugeot and Citroen, nor Renault have yet scheduled a date for the series’ release. Ford is also said to be working on it.

Equipment maker Valeo confirms it has already “designed a number of bright logos for major manufacturers, which will be mass-produced in the coming months”.

Until now, the radiators of gasoline and diesel cars limited the freedom of designers.

Valeo explains, “With the disappearance of ventilation grills on vehicles with thermal propulsion, automotive designers now have complete freedom to completely rethink the front end of electric vehicles and thus work on the brand’s signature. Achieve more”.

One of the other major French equipment makers, Fourvia, has also received orders for illuminated logos from 2022.

Ultimately, the new lights will also play a better role in vehicle safety.

According to concepts provided by the device manufacturers, they can specifically indicate information on the ground for the attention of other motorists, such as pedestrians, if they are driving in the direction the vehicle is going or in autonomous mode.

According to Bostjan Furlan, exterior lighting manager at Forvia, the “revolutionary technologies” can set “new standards in the design and integration of features at the front of the vehicle”.