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NHTSA Will Update Headlight Regs, Opening the Door for More Advanced Systems in the U.S.

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NHTSA Will Update Headlight Regs, Opening the Door for More Advanced Systems in the U.S.

An overhaul of FMVSS 108 could open the door to advanced headlight functions that aren’t currently legal here.

We may see some movement on the rules that currently keep some advanced lighting systems out of the U.S. market. This week, NHTSA announced that it’s planning a “long-overdue update to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 108,” rules the agency itself called outdated in the release. The process will use negotiated rule-making with a committee of up to 18 stakeholders from across the industry to include safety experts, automakers, suppliers, researchers, and engineers.

Topics may include addressing headlight glare, modernizing lighting technology, improving performance, updating testing, and aligning with global standards. This strongly suggests that the federal government is prepared to tweak the rules to allow advanced lighting technologies that are available in other markets.

As of 2022, FMVSS 108 allows adaptive driving beams, dynamic systems that can keep the high-beams on while selectively dimming portions of the beam that would otherwise glare other road users. The issue is that framework is U.S.-specific and doesn’t match the European standards many of these high-tech lighting systems are designed to meet.

-friendly version of its Digital Matrix lights that will debut on the 2027 Q9 flagship SUV . Mercedes will add a partial high-beam function to the latest version of its micro-LED Digital Light system, available on the 2027 S-class, GLE, and GLS. Others simply keep their features locked out through software, often offering a smaller subset of features with the same hardware that’s sold elsewhere.


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