Photo: Audi
Tesla recently announced that it would switch on the adaptive headlight features for the refreshed Model 3 in Europe, with other models to come online soon. However, US customers are left in the dark, literally, as local regulations prevent the use of adaptive headlights without a thorough redesign.
There's a noisy chatter about adaptive headlights lately, especially as the US regulations were changed in 2022 to allow this technology on US roads. It enables the headlights to bathe the road ahead in bright light like high beams do but without blinding other road users. This can be achieved by shaping the light beam to avoid other cars while covering the rest of the view field in bright light. This enhances safety for everyone because it allows drivers to see further without blinding oncoming drivers.
Adaptive headlights are common on European, Chinese, and Canadian roads but can't be used in the US. Many luxury carmakers, including Tesla, already ship their vehicles with matrix LED headlights, which can offer advanced adaptive functions. However, no car model offers adaptive headlights in the US yet. These functions are not enabled in software because US specifications differ from the ones in Europe and the rest of the world. Instead, vehicles sold in the US are fitted with automatic high beams, which automatically switch to low beams the moment another vehicle is detected ahead.
In January, Tesla announced it would enable adaptive headlights for the refreshed Model 3 in Europe. The EV maker also announced that it's working on allowing the adaptive headlight features on other models fitted with matrix LED headlights, including the refreshed Model S and Model X and newer Model Ys. Unfortunately, US customers will not get adaptive headlights, not even on the Model 3 Highland, which only started deliveries in January. This is even though the NHTSA changed the regulations in 2022 to allow carmakers to offer adaptive headlights.
In a recent reply to one of the owners on X, Tesla's VP of Engineering, Lars Moravi, confirmed the carmaker is working on bringing the adaptive headlights to the US. "FMVSS 108 for adaptive driving beam is pretty strict, but we'll keep plugging away," Moravi promised. Still, since the same headlights are street-legal in Europe and even Canada, why is it that Tesla cannot offer the same functions in the US? Especially now, as the legislation has been amended to allow them.
The first thing that differs between Canadian and US regulations is that the former permits European headlamps, while the latter prohibits them. Moreover, the US adaptive headlight rules set in the FMVSS 108 standard differ from those in other regions. Based on experts consulted by CNN, the US requirements are challenging to meet, so carmakers struggle to offer adaptive headlights in the US.
More specifically, NHTSA's rules require adaptive headlights to respond extremely fast after detecting another vehicle. This is not only much faster than other standards in use in Europe and Canada but also quicker than humans could switch regular high beams. They also dictate extremely narrow lines between bright and dark regions of the light beam, which is difficult to achieve in practice. This prevents current matrix LED headlamps from ever being switched on in the US. Instead, carmakers will be forced to redesign their adaptive headlights according to US regulations.
This not only prevents proven technology from being used in the US but is also detrimental to traffic safety, forcing everyone to use inferior solutions like automatic high beam switching. Until the NHTSA changes the rules, adaptive headlights in the US are only good for light shows and nothing more.
Adaptive headlights are common on European, Chinese, and Canadian roads but can't be used in the US. Many luxury carmakers, including Tesla, already ship their vehicles with matrix LED headlights, which can offer advanced adaptive functions. However, no car model offers adaptive headlights in the US yet. These functions are not enabled in software because US specifications differ from the ones in Europe and the rest of the world. Instead, vehicles sold in the US are fitted with automatic high beams, which automatically switch to low beams the moment another vehicle is detected ahead.
In January, Tesla announced it would enable adaptive headlights for the refreshed Model 3 in Europe. The EV maker also announced that it's working on allowing the adaptive headlight features on other models fitted with matrix LED headlights, including the refreshed Model S and Model X and newer Model Ys. Unfortunately, US customers will not get adaptive headlights, not even on the Model 3 Highland, which only started deliveries in January. This is even though the NHTSA changed the regulations in 2022 to allow carmakers to offer adaptive headlights.
In a recent reply to one of the owners on X, Tesla's VP of Engineering, Lars Moravi, confirmed the carmaker is working on bringing the adaptive headlights to the US. "FMVSS 108 for adaptive driving beam is pretty strict, but we'll keep plugging away," Moravi promised. Still, since the same headlights are street-legal in Europe and even Canada, why is it that Tesla cannot offer the same functions in the US? Especially now, as the legislation has been amended to allow them.
The first thing that differs between Canadian and US regulations is that the former permits European headlamps, while the latter prohibits them. Moreover, the US adaptive headlight rules set in the FMVSS 108 standard differ from those in other regions. Based on experts consulted by CNN, the US requirements are challenging to meet, so carmakers struggle to offer adaptive headlights in the US.
More specifically, NHTSA's rules require adaptive headlights to respond extremely fast after detecting another vehicle. This is not only much faster than other standards in use in Europe and Canada but also quicker than humans could switch regular high beams. They also dictate extremely narrow lines between bright and dark regions of the light beam, which is difficult to achieve in practice. This prevents current matrix LED headlamps from ever being switched on in the US. Instead, carmakers will be forced to redesign their adaptive headlights according to US regulations.
This not only prevents proven technology from being used in the US but is also detrimental to traffic safety, forcing everyone to use inferior solutions like automatic high beam switching. Until the NHTSA changes the rules, adaptive headlights in the US are only good for light shows and nothing more.
We are working on it. FMVSS 108 for adaptive driving beam is pretty strick, but we’ll keep plugging away.
— Lars (@larsmoravy) February 23, 2024
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