OSRAM has reported a surge in demand for High-Intensity Discharge (HID) replacement bulbs, with some customers experiencing sales growth of 50 per cent. Although new vehicle manufacturing is transitioning toward LED technology, millions of vehicles remain on the road with HID systems as standard equipment.
Originally introduced in 1991, Xenon HID technology offered improved efficiency and brightness over halogen. OSRAM’s XENARC HID range provides several application-specific solutions:
- XENARC NIGHT BREAKER 220: Features a 250-metre beam and up to 20% whiter light.
- XENARC COOL BLUE INTENSE: Designed for high-contrast illumination, offering up to 150% more brightness than the legal minimum.
- XENARC ULTRA LIFE: Focuses on durability with a 10-year guarantee, lasting up to four times longer than standard units.
- XENARC ORIGINAL: An OE-quality replacement manufactured in Germany, supplied with a four-year guarantee.
Terri Clark, Marketing Manager at OSRAM, commented:
“While our HID range has always been a solid range to stock as it has been consistently popular since the 90’s, in the last few months, our customers have reported that the demand has grown tremendously. We’re unsure if the winter selling period has grown this year, or if it’s a general life cycle thing, but we’re happy to provide our customers, garages, workshops and drivers with a HID solution for all driving styles.”
OSRAM suggests that the current market peak may be driven by the natural lifecycle of the vehicle parc or an extended winter maintenance period. Technicians are encouraged to check HID performance during routine servicing, as light output can diminish significantly before total bulb failure.
