From daytime running to dynamic style: Hella LEDayFlex III steers OEM lighting design

Edited by ad hoc news Flagship & Bestseller Desk. Reviewed before publication on 06/15/2026 at 7:39 PM ET. Details in the imprint.

With its modular LEDayFlex III LED system, Hella puts a flagship lighting toolkit into the hands of automakers that want distinctive daytime running lights and position lights without re-engineering the basic electronics for every model. The system consists of ready-to-use LED light modules that can be arranged in different shapes, while still meeting international lighting regulations and integration requirements for modern vehicle fronts and rears. According to the official Hella product documentation, the current LEDayFlex III family includes optimized optics, improved energy efficiency and modules for both front and rear applications, sold primarily to OEM customers in Europe and other global markets. The official Hella LEDayFlex III product page describes the system as a flexible LED module solution for daytime running light, position light and rear combination light functions.

Modular LED modules for signature light designs

At its core, LEDayFlex III is a modular system: Hella offers a series of compact LED light modules that can be combined in various configurations to create different light signatures, allowing vehicle manufacturers to draw distinctive patterns in the front bumper or rear fascia without changing the underlying electronics platform for each model line. The modules are designed to be freely arranged in horizontal, vertical or curved layouts, within defined limits for homologation and thermal management, so designers can translate brand-specific themes into lighting elements that remain technically standardized under the surface. This approach simplifies engineering and can shorten development cycles for new front and rear designs, because the light units are pre-validated and only the arrangement changes from vehicle to vehicle.

Hella emphasizes that LEDayFlex III is intended for combined daytime running and position light functions at the front, as well as for rear position and stop light functions in specific versions, enabling coherent styling across the vehicle. The LED modules are offered with integrated optics and electronics tuned for even light distribution, so OEMs do not have to develop their own LED arrays and reflectors for each use case. This is particularly relevant for mainstream models that require a distinctive look but cannot justify the cost of bespoke, one-off lighting units. By using a standardized module family, automakers can vary the visual design across trim levels while relying on the same supplier platform for thermal, optical and electrical performance.

On the technical side, LEDayFlex III modules are built around efficient high-brightness LEDs, optimized lenses and light guides that deliver a homogeneous light band when arranged in sequence, which is important for meeting daytime visibility requirements and achieving a premium appearance. The system is engineered to operate within the vehicle’s standard electrical architecture, typically on 12-volt networks, and it is compatible with modern lighting control units that handle functions like dimming, failure detection and, in some configurations, adaptive lighting behavior such as variable intensity between daytime running and position modes. As a result, OEMs can integrate the modules into existing electrical and electronic architectures, reducing the need for custom control gear in each new project.

From a regulatory standpoint, Hella designs LEDayFlex III to comply with ECE regulations for daytime running lights and position lights, and to support homologation for the various markets where its OEM customers sell vehicles. That means the light intensity, color temperature and beam distribution are all constrained within defined ranges, even as designers arrange the modules into creative shapes. Because each module is a pre-approved component, the homologation process focuses on the combined arrangement on a given vehicle, not a fresh approval cycle for the core light element every time. For global automakers, this reduces risk and helps ensure that a styling-led decision in one region does not create regulatory issues in another.

Hella positions LEDayFlex III as part of a broader portfolio of LED-based front and rear lighting systems that span from basic daytime running lights to full LED headlamps and complex rear combination lamps. For volume models, the modular approach offers a cost-effective path to a signature light look, while premium models can use the same technology as a design accent complementing more advanced matrix or laser headlamp systems. Industry coverage of Hella’s modular daytime running light concepts notes that this strategy reflects a wider trend in automotive lighting: serial modules enabling brand differentiation without sacrificing the economies of scale that OEMs demand. A recent analysis by Automotive World on modular DRL solutions highlights how suppliers like Hella use standardized modules to help manufacturers tailor the light signature of each model family while keeping development and tooling costs under control.

Strategically, LEDayFlex III is one of Hella’s visible flagship offerings in the field of exterior LED lighting modules for original equipment manufacturers, and it sits alongside the company’s more complex headlamp systems, electronic control units and sensors within the lighting and electronics portfolio of Forvia, the combined group created after the merger of Faurecia and Hella. The system illustrates how Hella’s engineering focus on modularity and platform thinking translates into tangible hardware that OEM customers can deploy across multiple vehicles and regions. Shares of Forvia SE (ISIN DE000A13SX22) last traded on the regulated market in Frankfurt at EUR 19.40 on 06/14/2026, underscoring that the company remains an active listed player in the global automotive supply chain, with exterior lighting solutions like LEDayFlex III contributing to its broader revenue base. The current Forvia listing on Börse Frankfurt provides the latest quote and trading data for the stock.

This article was a.i.-assisted and editorially reviewed. Product information without warranty; prices and availability may change at short notice. Not investment advice and not a buy or sell recommendation. Trading involves risk up to and including the total loss of invested capital.