No one knows for sure how the HELLA name came to be trademarked for an acetylene headlamp in 1908, or how the logo later developed for the product came to be registered with the German Patent Office in 1926. The most likely story is that the name Hella was developed by Windmüller himself in honor of a nickname used by his wife Helene. 

HELLA PAGID GMBH, the joint venture of automotive supplier TMD Friction and HELLA, started operations as independent company on May 2, 2013. The joint venture, headquartered in Essen, sells brake components and brake accessories on the international automotive spare parts market. Both partners have a 50% share in the joint venture.

The HELLA Group has further strengthened its presence on the rapidly growing Chinese car market by setting up a joint venture with the leading Chinese automobile manufacturer, BAIC. The signing of the contract for the establishment of Beijing Hella BHAP Automotive Lighting Co. Ltd. took place in Munich on March 26, 2014.

HELLA is further expanding its e-commerce activities in the Aftermarket segment. By acquiring iParts, the leading online shop for vehicle parts in Poland, the company aims at bolstering its e-commerce activities while accelerating its further expansion. The focus here will initially be placed on the Northern and Eastern European territories.

HELLA has successfully placed a corporate 300 million euro bond on the capital market. The bond term is seven years and and has a coupon interest of 1.0 percent per year. The issue generated strong interest of notable domestic and international institutional investors and led to great demand resulting in an approximately eightfold over-subscription.

WMI supplies headlamps for the very first prototype of the Volkswagen. 

First type approval for a headlamp with asymmetric light distribution. 

HELLA is the first manufacturer to receive approval for an H4 (halogen) headlamp. 

In the DE projection headlamp, the light is projected onto the road based on the principle of a slide projector, greatly increasing light emission even though the size of the light aperture is reduced. 

Free-surface technology (FF) is developed, allowing much more efficient use of the light beam. In the new technology, reflectors are positioned based on computer calculations to generate the light distribution without needing any optical profiles in the cover lens. 

First-generation Xenon headlamps from HELLA go into series production. 

HELLA develops the first integrated accelerator pedal sensor with accelerator pedal, pedal power generation and sensors in a modular unit. 

Series launch of integrated rain-light sensors. 

The Intelligent Battery Sensor is a prime example of high-efficiency energy management. These sensors check battery status and supply detailed, precise power, voltage and temperature values from the vehicle’s battery. This data makes it possible to reallocate energy within the vehicle to optimally serve its needs. 

A front camera monitors the road during driving and recognizes traffic signs. The new feature also warns drivers when they are going faster than the posted limit. 

HELLA develops the first full LED headlamp for the Cadillac Escalade Platinum. 

The Dynamic Light Assist feature in the VW Touareg is based on intelligent interaction between a front camera, powerful image processing software and the very latest in lighting technology from HELLA. A camera located on the front windshield detects vehicles driving ahead as well as oncoming vehicles. Powerful image processing functions analyze the data and pinpoint the exact location of the other vehicles on the road. This information is used to move a special cylinder-shaped shade between the light source and the projection lens in the headlamp so that other road users do not have to contend with added glare. This helps ensure optimum visibility for the at all times, without disturbing other road users. 

Due to the particular requirements of the truck segment, it was decided to employ long-lasting and vibration-resistant LED light sources. This is particularly relevant in the case of lighting functions with the longest operating time, such as daytime running lights, position lights, and low beams. The low beam's light intensity is at the Xenon level. Thanks to the fact that the LEDs' light color resembles daylight, the subjective perception of brightness is considerably greater. This allows drivers to rely on natural vision, which perceives contrasts better. Combined with homogeneous light distribution, the headlamp therefore contributes to increased traffic safety by preventing fatigue. As a result of the use of energy-efficient LED light sources, the power consumption of the low beam could also be reduced to 21 watts, which represents a savings of 49 watts compared to a conventional filament-bulb solution. Therefore the LED headlamp contributes significantly to reducing CO2 emissions. 

Hella Pagid is expanding its product portfolio by adding the brake hydraulics segment, thus adding 3,400 products. A comprehensive range of goods is now on offer and customers can choose among more than 7,400 products. In addition to brake linings, brake discs, brake fluids and brake accessories, such as warning contacts, also brake calipers and brake hoses as well as brake master cylinders and wheel brake cylinders will from now on be included in the Hella Pagid product range.

Hella Aglaia is presenting the new APC People Counter on IT-Trans, the international trade fair for public passenger transport. The APC People Counter has a variety of applications for counting persons in passenger transport, such as busses and trains, and for stationary use in terminals and at train track gates. The 3D stereo camera with integrated image processing and analysis function constitutes the heart of the APC People Counter. The complex method of measurement ensures very high counting accuracy, which remains equally strong even during strong crowding and group formation.

HELLA is providing a new type of interior lighting concept for the Chevrolet Camaro, lending the vehicle interior a distinctive design. For the first time, the color no longer changes in a static fashion. In other words, not all light guides change color at the same time; instead the change is dynamic. The color scheme spreads slowly throughout the vehicle in a subtle, flowing pattern from the central display. Drivers can either choose directly among 24 different colors or couple the interior lighting color to the driving mode, such as e.g. "cruise mode", "track mode" or "sport mode".

Lighting and electronics expert HELLA has been producing radar sensors in the 24 GHz narrow-band range for more than a decade. A few days ago, the ten-millionth sensor left the electronics plant in Hamm.

HELLA put its first generation of 24 GHz radar sensors into serial production already back in 2005. The sensor systems are ideal for applications that have since become standard functions, such as blind spot detection, lane change assistants and rear-facing parking assistance. To accomplish these tasks, the sensor records the speed, angle and distance information for objects in an area up to 70 meters away. Then it evaluates the information. By its own account, HELLA is now market leader in the field of 24 GHz narrow-band sensors. Fifteen automobile manufacturers have already chosen the company as their supplier, resulting in more than 120 vehicle series being outfitted with this radar technology at present.

The objective of any workshop consists in getting cars back on the road as quickly as possible. Lighting and electric specialist HELLA has focused and optimized its processes and services on the independent aftermarket in that spirit. HELLA accompanies workshops along the entire repair process - from vehicle reception via vehicle diagnosis, including errors and parts identification, to online repair assistance and technical advice.

At Agritechnica 2017, the CAB Concept Cluster presented its latest project, the Smart Cab. On the basis of a multifunctional cab for autonomous harvesting machinery, the integrated innovations show how the demands of the agricultural technology field can be met today and in the future. As lighting and electronics expert, HELLA contributed to the Smart CAB with the following concepts: smart matrix work light headlamps that avoid glaring in conjunction with the HELLA-developed light reference sensor and eye tracking and/or object recognition by automatically dimming individual elements whenever those are glaring or unnecessary; lighting for drones; a washing system for sensors; the HELLA projection module enabling communication via light; a styling light for customer-specific design and more recognition as well as an interior lighting system that can be used as, both, ambient reading light or for collision detection.