International automotive supplier FORVIA HELLA has fully localized its digital, high-resolution headlamp system SSL | HD in China for the first time in the context of a new series project. Both series development as well as manufacturing take place at FORVIA HELLA sites in China; the upstream supply chain is also based locally in China. The SSL | HD lighting system is being integrated into the new 8X from Zeekr, an electric brand of the Chinese Geely Group. The Zeekr 8X was unveiled for the first time in early January of this year and has been available in China since mid-last month.

“The successful start of series launch for our high-resolution SSL | HD headlamp marks another important step in our product strategy to continuously roll out this leading lighting technology and address new customer groups and markets,” says Juan Manuel Mollá, Managing Director Lighting at FORVIA HELLA. “To industrialize this customer project in close collaboration with Zeekr, localizing on the ground in China was essential. It enabled us to operate close to the market and the customer, bring the project into series production with cost competitiveness and high development efficiency, and meet the specific requirements of the Chinese market with precision. On this basis, we have been able to align the high technology standards for which FORVIA HELLA is known with ‘China speed.’ This underscores our strategic approach to consistently intensify our activities in the Chinese market and further expand our business with local manufacturers there.”

New features enabling light-based communication between the vehicle and its surroundings have been implemented for the first time in the Zeekr 8X
In the new Zeekr 8X, a high-resolution LED chip smaller than a fingernail generates around 25,000 individually and intelligently addressable pixels per headlamp. Based on this highly precise pixel control, SSL | HD headlamps can realize new safety- and comfort-relevant lighting functionalities. For example, during highway driving or in narrow construction zones, they can dynamically project an optical lane-keeping assist onto the roadway to provide additional guidance for safe vehicle control. For the new Zeekr 8X, projections to enable communication between the vehicle and other road users were also implemented for the first time, such as warning projections if a parked vehicle has been grazed by another car.

FORVIA HELLA’s SSL | HD technology is a consistent further development and miniaturization of matrix LED systems already established in the market. Compared to conventional headlamps, an SSL | HD lighting system can reduce the required installation space by up to 75 percent, thereby saving weight and opening new degrees of freedom in vehicle design. In addition, new lighting functions can be implemented purely via software through over-the-air (OTA) updates, without the need for any hardware modifications.

Didier Keskas, who is responsible for the lighting business in the Asian region at FORVIA HELLA, says: “Our collaboration with Zeekr on the new 8X is a lighthouse project for us – because we have succeeded in an exceptional way in combining technology, quality, and development efficiency, especially with this demanding lighting system. To achieve this, we simplified our processes in a targeted manner and ran certain stages in parallel; we consistently scaled a proven product platform and kept our supply chains short and local. The result is clear: within a short development time, we brought a headlamp into series production that is highly innovative yet affordable. We will continue this approach, further strengthen our position in China, and support our local customers in the market as a close partner in their internationalization.”

(Photo credit: FORVIA HELLA)

TrendForce 2025 Global Automotive LED Market- Lighting and Display Product Trend
Release Date:
1. PDF (196 Pages)- 30 June 2025
2. EXCEL- 30 June 2025 and 31 December 2025
Languages: Traditional Chinese / English

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• TrendForce 2025 Global Automotive LED Market- Lighting and Display Product Trend
• FORVIA HELLA
• Automotive LED