FORVIA HELLA, the international automotive supplier, is strengthening its focus on software-based business models with the establishment of HELLA Ignite GmbH, known as “Ignite by FORVIA HELLA.” Formed at the beginning of the year, this new company aims to drive the rapid and agile development of exclusively software-based products. By the end of 2025, the team is expected to comprise around 40 software experts.
Kay Talmi, Managing Director of Ignite by FORVIA HELLA, highlighted software’s critical role in current and future mobility, anticipating the market to double in the next five years. He noted that as a prominent electronics supplier already integrating software into many of its market-leading products, strategically addressing the software market with a dedicated unit is a logical step.
The new entity will develop software products closely linked to FORVIA HELLA’s core Business Groups—Lighting, Electronics, and Lifecycle Solutions—including areas like lighting electronics and sensor data processing. Additionally, Ignite by FORVIA HELLA is developing entirely new software-only business models.
One such innovation is the “Traffic Rules Engine (TRE),” first introduced at CES 2024. Developed in collaboration with TÜV Rheinland, this software module monitors automated vehicles (SAE Level 3 and higher) for compliance with traffic regulations and laws, based on sensor and map data. It assesses planned manoeuvres for legal admissibility and provides real-time feedback to the vehicle control system if deviations are detected. The TRE can be updated over-the-air to ensure the application of the latest country-specific regulations.
The objective is to integrate the TRE into a vehicle for the first time by year-end, with TÜV Rheinland validating the software on a test track using real-world traffic scenarios. The initial focus will be on highway driving for SAE Level 3 vehicles, where certain tasks are executed independently.
