Motherson uses injection molding, films, printing technologies and painting and surface coating to integrate light modules into large exterior parts like bumpers and fascias, Timo Schwarz, chief technology officer at Motherson Innovations, told Plastics News.
"The integration of the light sources within the exterior parts is the key for a successful product," Schwarz said. "Marelli"s strong knowledge of the legal requirements for lighting systems brings additional expertise to the partnership. … The very human, mutual understanding between both businesses make this a strong partnership."
Within the partnership, Marelli"s lighting division will focus on automotive lighting and sensors integration, a July 28 news release said.
Marelli applied a similar concept in its Smart Corner product, which integrates sensors for autonomous driving within vehicle headlamps and tail lamps, Andrea Stella, senior vice president of research and development at Marelli Automotive Lighting, told Plastics News.
The illuminated body panels, which include displays, headlights and rear lights or other parts, "rely on sophisticated electronics and depend on networking with the car architecture," Stella said.
"The successful interaction of all elements is the key to communication within the car system where electronics command the cameras and the sensors and is also crucial to enable vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-everything communication," she said, "creating a connected system between the car, the driver and the surrounding environment.
"Marelli and Motherson have a long-lasting and very successful partnership over many years, having established a joint venture in 2008 to address the India exterior lighting market," Stella said. "Our know-how in products and technologies complement one another and eased the fusion of body panels and exterior lighting.
"Our very similar customer portfolio allows us to remain a partner of choice for our customers," she added. "It"s always the satisfying full package that makes you choose the one possible partner rather than the others."
The companies" joint statement notes that they aim to play a crucial part in upcoming technological and sustainable developments in lighting and plastics.
"Driving innovation and shaping the future of mobility together with our customers requires not only the ability to best respond to their current needs, but most of all the ability to anticipate forthcoming evolutions and rising market trends," Sylvain Dubois, CEO of Marelli"s Automotive Lighting division, said in the release.
"We are sure that this new collaboration will be a solid step towards achieving new strategic developments in the evolution of the automotive market," Dubois said.
Marelli Automotive Lighting is a division of Marelli that designs external automotive lighting systems and sensors for autonomous driving systems. SMRP BV (Motherson) develops and manufactures polymer modules, including cockpits, door panels, front and rear bumper modules and more for the automotive industry.