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.

The lighting and electronics specialist HELLA and the French technology supplier Faurecia will cooperate in a strategic partnership for the development of innovative interior lighting solutions. Within this cooperation, both companies will jointly develop lighting solutions with high-technology content in the domain of surface-lighting and dynamic-lighting for a comprehensive personalized cockpit environment.

HELLA has opened a second electronics plant in India. The new production facility will meet the growing demand for electronic components and strengthen proximity to local customers. Production at the new location will initially focus on sensor solutions for accelerator pedal sensors and will gradually be expanded by further electronic products. In the first expansion phase, the plant will comprise a building area of around 5,000 square meters and employ up to 200 people in the future.

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

First type approval for a headlamp with asymmetric light distribution.

A foot in the door in the electronics segment: the first fully electronic flasher unit.

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.

The new workshop portal HELLA Tech World combines comprehensive expert knowledge with technical information on product- and vehicle-specific problems during maintenance and repair. It contains more than 1,200 vehicle-specific diagnostics and repair tips as well as numerous technical videos related to the HELLA competence sectors lighting, electrics, electronics and thermal management that can be found directly and simply via an intuitive user interface and fast search. It also contains comprehensive technical know-how on further and continuing training. 

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.

The CAB Concept Cluster is a platform created in 2014 comprised of experienced OEM suppliers, the Technische Universitaet Dresden and various industrial partners and associations. The cluster is focused on manufacturers of construction and agricultural machinery as well as forklifts. It aims at bundling pre-series innovations in joint projects while demonstrating potentials for efficient system integration. The presentation of a wheel bearing Genius CAB at bauma 2016 showed how a customer-neutral platform can pool innovation and added value for customers. At Agritechnica 2017, the 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. HELLA is proud to be part of the Cluster and has contributed innovative lighting and electronics solutions to both projects.

HELLA has more than 100 years of experience with supplying automotive equipment and continually furthers the development of lighting technology. HELLA also applies this expertise to the agricultural vehicle sector, where modern lighting solutions and design are gaining increasing significance. Against this backdrop, HELLA is primarily promoting tailor-made customer-specific solutions and LED technology. Compared to conventional halogen light sources, LEDs make possible not only improved lighting and lower power consumption, but they allow creating entirely new trends in vehicle design while enhancing brand identity and appearance. 

In 2017, HELLA starts selling its second generation of intelligent battery sensors (IBS), specially developed for caravaning, motorhomes and the marine sector. These sensors are equipped with the very latest technology from the automotive industry. They will enable users to determine the charge status and aging of consumer and starter batteries even more precisely. HELLA has also further developed the associated software to enable these sensors to be used for a number of batteries connected in parallel, as well as for larger batteries with up to 500 ampere hours. An additional benefit is the sensor’s compact design, which makes it particularly easy to install in difficult mounting positions.

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.

Our latest development enabled us to create a projection module in such unique luminous intensity that it can also optimally serve during daylight.  Thanks to its special lens optics, it is possible to project warning signals on the ground in front of the vehicle. The possibilities here are very varied. The projections can be developed and realized according to customer preferences. The luminous intensity ensures that any signals are optimally discernable also during daylight. HELLA has already implemented a first projection module that is available as of immediately. It projects an exclamation mark as warning signal. Other versions are possible upon customer request.

The lighting and electronics expert HELLA has implemented a comprehensive lighting concept for the new Audi A8. It combines intelligent safety with individual comfort and striking animations; light here serves not only as a safety function but also takes center-stage as a design element. With HELLA's Coming Home and Leaving Home scenarios, the front and rear lighting units of this luxury sedan make an important contribution to vehicle individualization. It furthermore has a unique vehicle interior.