Unique designs and customized vehicle interiors are the latest trend. Elaborate product designs customized specifically for a particular target group are included in the list of features provided in vehicles from basic to premium vehicle classes. Thanks to innovative new technology, YFAI now offers door panels in any design specification, leaving nothing to be desired where customization options, aesthetics, functionality and ergonomics are concerned.

Custom illumination on fabrics and perforated leather

With distinct light effects in any color or shape, YFAI is able to illuminate unique fabric patterns directly or to backlight perforated leather surfaces in its new door panels in a manner that is visually appealing. The company combines its manufacturing expertise in the field of surface finishing with the latest findings in consumer research and design excellence. The results are versatile, sophisticated surfaces created using ambient lighting for the next generation of vehicles.

The new technology is made possible by directly incorporating light guides into a lightweight support fabric combined with LEDs. This enables large-scale illumination with maximum design freedom. The thin material fitted with light guides forms a surface that is then used as a backlighting solution. Compared to the alternative flat lighting options, the YFAI solution offers a weight reduction of up to 25 percent with this process. LEDs are an effective light technology, guaranteeing long service life and high color intensity. The illuminated door panel surfaces fulfill a functional purpose as well: the full-scale ambient lighting structures and visualizes vehicle status messages, such as red for the transition from self-controlled to autonomous driving mode and blue for relaxed autonomous driving.

New opportunities for distinctive interiors

"We strive to make the time spent in the vehicle as useful as possible. The new light guide technology offers our designers maximum design freedom to incorporate the technology into unique patterned fabrics or perforated leather surfaces in order to create a distinctive atmosphere and to also accentuate large surfaces," said Han Hendriks, vice president Advanced Product Development & Sales at Yanfeng Automotive Interiors. "Our goal is to offer unique interior designs even in basic class vehicle categories using effective light guide ambient lighting. Good design should not be a question of vehicle size: we want to also facilitate premium comfort in the small and medium class vehicle segments."

The surface designs ensure the "wow" effect. Individually woven fabric patterns are instantly illuminated as distinctively as backlit perforated leather. There are essentially no limits to the creativity in interior design. The technology can be implemented universally, making it just as suitable for customizing instrument panels.

Please visit the Yanfeng Automotive Interiors media microsite for the IAA 2015 for additional images: http://iaa2015-media.yfai.com