Opel's autonomous concept vehicle with adaptive light communication

Opel Lighting Technology With AI for Communication in Road Traffic

2025-10-02 From Ipek Muftuler | Translated by AI 1 min Reading Time

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Opel presents an autonomous concept vehicle with adaptive light communication at a conference. The innovation aims to better protect pedestrians and strengthen trust in automated vehicles.

With a modified Grandland, Opel is testing new communication technologies.(Image: Opel) — With a modified Grandland, Opel is testing new communication technologies.
(Image: Opel)

At the International Symposium on Automotive Lighting (ISAL) 2025 in Darmstadt (Germany), Opel, together with Stellantis and TU Darmstadt, presented a new lighting concept: The demonstration vehicle, an Opel Grandland with SAE Level 3 autonomy, communicates with other road users using an AI-supported lighting system. The aim of the development is to use light not only for better visibility but also as an active means of communication—to protect all parties involved in road traffic.

New Colors for New Functions

The centerpiece of the innovation is a dynamic light signature: when the vehicle detects a hazardous situation, such as a pedestrian on the road, the signature lighting and display illuminate in magenta. When the vehicle comes to a stop, the lighting changes to green, signaling that it is safe to cross the road. In autonomous mode, the turn signals remain cyan-colored to inform other road users about the operating state.

Opel deliberately uses colors like cyan and magenta, which are not previously used in road traffic, to avoid confusion with conventional signals. The selection of color codes is based on scientific studies on perception in road traffic.

Gallery

A warning symbol indicates a danger spot or situation.(Image: Opel)

Green symbols indicate to the pedestrian that the car has stopped and is giving way to them.(Image: Opel)

Stop, please: Hand gestures are also recognized by the vehicle.(Image: Opel)

Stellantis Promotes Research in Open Labs

The project is the result of close collaboration between Opel, parent company Stellantis, TU Darmstadt, and the AI start-up JAAI. Since 2022, the partners have been researching innovative lighting technologies as part of the "OpenLabs" program. Four Stellantis-funded doctoral positions in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology underscore the scientific ambition of the collaboration.

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