Ambilight sees bright future for dimmers

As automakers race to redefine the in-car experience, electrochromic dimming glass is moving from a niche luxury feature to a scalable cockpit solution, said a top executive from a leading smart electrochromic company at the Beijing International Automotive Exhibition.

He Jiazhi, vice-president of automotive at Ambilight Inc, said the industry is entering a new phase in which light is no longer a passive element inside the vehicle, but a controllable system integrated into the broader intelligent cockpit architecture.

Ambilight, one of the more closely watched suppliers at the show, has built system-level technology offering spanning materials, device architecture, module packaging and system integration. The Suzhou, Jiangsu province-based company said more than 300,000 vehicles equipped with its electrochromic tech have already been delivered globally.

"The strong presence of the technology at this year's Beijing auto show signals that electrochromic glass is entering a broader market validation phase. Electrochromic materials are inherently active-response materials. They are lightweight and energy-efficient. More importantly, they don't rely on complex mechanical structures, which makes them easier to integrate with modern electronic and software-defined vehicle systems," said He.

Smart dimming glass — once largely confined to panoramic sunroofs in premium models — is now expanding across vehicle categories and price bands, as well as into new application areas such as side windows and rear cabin spaces.

"At this year's auto show, what stands out is not just more models adopting the technology, but how it is being used. We are seeing a transition from a single sunroof feature to a full-vehicle light environment solution — covering 'roof, side windows and rear cabin' as an integrated system," the vice-president said, adding that this shift reflects changing priorities among automakers as user experience becomes a central competitive factor in intelligent electric vehicles.

"Consumers are no longer satisfied with basic functionality. They care about thermal comfort, glare reduction, privacy and the overall ambience inside the car. Material-based dimming solutions can address all of these simultaneously without adding structural complexity, which is why their value is being reassessed," he said.

The company is among the earliest to commercialize electrochromic sunroofs in automotive applications. Its recent entry into Audi's supply chain followed nearly two years of testing and validation, culminating in approval from the German automaker's headquarters.

"The significance is not just that our product was adopted. It shows that Chinese advanced materials can meet the highest global standards and provide stable, scalable system solutions," the executive said.

Notably, Ambilight operates a dual-base model, with research and manufacturing centers in both China and overseas. Its global team focuses on fundamental electrochromic research, while its China operations handle engineering, production and industrial integration.

He said the broader adoption of dimming glass is being enabled by improvements across the supply chain — from material stability to cost control and manufacturing capacity. The technology is now moving beyond ultra-luxury vehicles into the 300,000-400,000 yuan ($44,153-$58,871) price range, with further penetration expected.

Looking ahead, the company's vice-president expects dimming glass to become a standard component of next-generation smart cockpits, alongside displays, seating systems and thermal management.