A vehicle including a vehicle hood disposed over a front end compartment of the vehicle, the hood having a front end and a rear end, the rear end being proximal to a front windshield area of the vehicle; at least one hood actuator operably coupled to the hood, the at least one hood actuator being configured to move at least a portion of the hood relative to the front end compartment; and a controller in communication with the at least one hood actuator, the controller being configured to control the at least one hood actuator in response to a predetermined vehicle operating condition. The hood further includes an active hinge defining a hood pivot axis disposed between the front end and the rear end, whereby the at least one hood actuator is configured to move only a forward portion of the hood disposed between the active hinge and the front end of the hood.

A safety lighting system for use with trailers is described herein. In some embodiments, the trailer lighting system comprises a sensor, a controller, and safety lights. The safety lighting system may be used for illuminating trailers while being towed, for example, in shipping yards, construction yards, and shipping and receiving docks. The safety lighting system may be activated upon connection of a pneumatic system with a spotting tractor and deactivated upon establishing an electrical connection from a tractor to the trailer.

Vehicle exterior lighting systems for vehicles equipped with tailgate assemblies may be configured to provide redundant backup lighting functionality for all tailgate positions (e.g., closed, open, and removed). Exemplary systems may include both vehicle static body structure mounted backup lamps and tailgate structure mounted backup lamps for providing the backup lighting redundancy.

A housing for connecting a light bar to a vehicle comprises at least a front surface comprising a lighting aperture, a first side surface, a second side surface opposite the first side surface, and a top surface defining a hollow interior. The housing further comprises at least a first bracket and a second bracket located within the hollow interior. The first bracket is configured to connect a first interior face of the housing to a first side of the light bar while the second bracket is configured to connect a second interior face of the housing to a second side of the light bar. At least a portion of at least one of the front surface, the first side surface, the second side surface, the first bracket, and/or the second bracket is configured to connect to a surface of the vehicle.

An automated driving enabled vehicle includes a travel controller, an automated driving indicator lamp, and a lamp controller. The automated driving indicator lamp is switched on perceptibly from outside the vehicle on the occasion of automated driving. The lamp controller acquires, during the execution of the automated driving, attribute information regarding a place being traveled by the vehicle. The lamp controller makes a lighting control of the automated driving indicator lamp during the execution of the automated driving, in accordance with the place being traveled by the vehicle executing the automated driving.

A light bar for a motor vehicle has a plurality of lights mounted to an elongated support member is rotatably connected to opposing end walls of a rectangular frame. An offset cam is connected to the support member and moved by an actuating mechanism between a first and second position which cause the support member and lights to rotate about an axis to corresponding first and second positions. When the support frame and lights are in a first position they are shielded by and substantially enclosed by the sides and ends of the rectangular frame, and when in a second position the lights extend above and generally parallel to the rectangular frame to shine above and forward of the rectangular frame. A power switch energizes the actuating mechanism to move the lights and support member between the first and second positions.

A vehicle communication system installed in a vehicle includes: a lamp for illumination, a display or signal; a display that is configured by a planar light emitter and has an information display function; and a control unit that is capable of controlling turning-on of the lamp and of the display. The control unit is configured to control the lamp and the display in a linked manner, and present vehicle information indicating a condition of the vehicle by combining light emission of the lamp with information display of the display.

A roof cargo tray for a motor vehicle includes a loading surface, which is formed by two outer longitudinal profiles, a plurality of inner longitudinal profiles, two side profiles, a front transverse profile and a rear transverse profile. The side profiles and the transverse profiles delimit the loading surface of the roof cargo tray laterally. The inner longitudinal profiles have identical profile cross sections and include a longitudinal groove and a surface which is located opposite the longitudinal groove and is of closed design. At least one of the inner longitudinal profiles is arranged in a first orientation such that, when the roof cargo tray has been mounted on the motor vehicle, the longitudinal groove faces upward, and wherein at least one of the inner longitudinal profiles is arranged in a second orientation, which is rotated through 180° about a longitudinal axis and in which the longitudinal groove faces downward.

A method for modifying a brightness level of an automobile vehicle backup light includes: receiving electronic signals in a brightness evaluator and light controller defining at least one image captured within a field-of-view (FOV) of an automobile vehicle camera; dividing the at least one image into multiple independent zones; evaluating an environmental brightness level of individual ones of the multiple independent zones; comparing a brightness level of at least one backup light of the automobile vehicle to the environmental brightness level; and sending a control signal to the at least one backup light to modify the brightness level of the least one backup light.

A vehicle skid plate comprises a skid plate body, at least one lighting element, and a plurality of fasteners. The skid plate body comprises at least a first section and a second section. The first section comprises an outer surface, an inner surface, at least one lighting aperture, a plurality of light fastening apertures, and at least one mounting aperture. Each lighting element is connected to the inner surface at a lighting aperture of the at least one lighting aperture by passing at least one fastener through an aperture in the lighting element and into a light fastening aperture. The skid plate body is configured to connect to a vehicle chassis by passing at least one fastener through a chassis aperture and into a mounting aperture.