125 years of innovative spirit:

celebrate with us!

We have been shaping and transforming the automotive industry since 1899. From our early days as a lamp manufacturer to our current position as a friend of the independent workshop and partner to the wholesale trade, we have been transferring our OE expertise and diagnostic know-how to the independent aftermarket.

Together with you, we would now like to look back on 125 electrifying and enlightening years full of technical innovations and novelties.

Writing the success story:

As partner of the wholesaler and
the workshop’s friend

From the founding of a lamp factory to the first electric spotlight

1899 to 1924

Founding Westfälische Metall-Industrie Aktien-Gesellschaft

1899

Founding of the „Westfälische Metall-Industrie Aktien-Gesellschaft“ in Lippstadt

1899

Candles- and paraffin lamps and bulb horns (cornets) as product range

1908

Brand name „HELLA“ for acetylene gas headlamps

1915

First electrical generator / first red tail lights & yellow brake lights

1924

Dipped and main beam as symmetrical light from one headlamp

From the expansion of the product portfolio to large-scale industrial operation

1925 to 1957

1930

HELLA develops fog lamps or so-called “curve headlamps”

1935

HELLA supplies headlamps for VW Beetle prototype

1953

Increase the pace of domestic sales over advertising activities

Illuminated road (asymmetric light distribution)

1957

First type approval granted for a headlamp with asymmetric light distribution

From expansion to the other side of the world to the electronic age

1958 to 1971

1961

“HELLA Australia Pty Ltd” is the first factory abroad

1962

HELLA introduces the first auxiliary lamp to use a halogen bulb onto the market

1965

The first electronic flasher unit sees the start of the electronic era in vehicles

1971

HELLA is the first manufacturer to receive approval for an H4 main headlamp

From the first high-tech products to a global automotive supplier

1972 to 1997

1984

Electronically controlled interior temperature regulator system from HELLA

1988

HELLA presents the free-form reflector which significantly improves the utilization of the luminous flux

1992

The first generation of xenon headlamps goes into series production

1997

Bi-xenon headlamps are presented in prototype vehicles for the first time

From the first headlamp system to LED technology

1998 to 2010

headlamp system using light guide technology (Volvo)

2001

The first presentation of a headlamp system using light guide technology can be seen in the VOLVO SCC Concept Car

2003

HELLA is the first company to produce cornering & dynamic bend lights in series

2007

The first front camera with traffic sign recognition

2010

First full LED headlamps with AFS functions for the Audi A8

From digital workshop portals to innovative radar systems

2011 to 2017

2012

HELLA presents new workshop portal HELLA TECH WORLD

2013

First vehicle with 100% LED low beam headlamps and optional camera based full-LED headlamp with glare-free high beam

2014

Debut of Matrix LED technology

2016

Ten-millionth 24 GHz radar sensor manufactured

2016

Presentation of MULTIBEAM LED headlamp, a development in partnership between Daimler AG and the light and electronics expert HELLA

2017

HELLA and ZF agree on strategic cooperation for sensor technology and radar systems

2017

The Workshop’s Friend starts. HELLA focusses and optimizes its processes and services on the independent aftermarket

From strategic repositioning to the seventh-largest automotive supplier

2018 to 2024

2018

Strategic collaboration with Faurecia

2019

HELLA revises its range of bulbs

2019

HELLA launches new full LED auxiliary headlamps for trucks on the market

2020

Vehicle diagnostics with the mega macs X from Hella Gutmann

2021

HELLA expands product range for electromobility and launches low-voltage battery management system on the market

2021

HELLA introduces new Modular Lightbar to the market for municipal vehicles

2022

HELLA Black Magic LED series: Auxiliary lights now also available on the European market

2022

Faurecia is new majority shareholder of HELLA

2022

Faurecia and HELLA announce the name of the world’s seventh largest automotive supplier: FORVIA

2022

High-voltage battery diagnostics with the mega macs from Hella Gutmann

2022

HELLA Aftermarket: Wholesalers and workshops benefit from pooling of expertise with Faurecia Service in the field of exhaust systems

2022

Repair service at the touch of a button: HELLA TECH WORLD with expanded scope

2023

HELLA expands Black Magic auxiliary headlamp series with 32 new lightbars

2023

Market launch for professional High Voltage Battery Diagnostics in Automotive Workshops

2023

HELLA ValueFit BLADE: new LED auxiliary headlamp series for trucks and off-road applications

The success story continues:

FORVIA HELLA

You can find everything else about the merger of Faurecia and Hella under the umbrella brand FORVIA on our homepage. Plus you can discover more exciting stories from our 125 years of company history there.

Find out more

125 years of innovative spirit: celebrate with us!

Writing the success story: As partner of the wholesaler and the workshop’s friend

The success story continues: FORVIA HELLA

125 years of innovative spirit:

celebrate with us!

Writing the success story:

As partner of the wholesaler and
the workshop’s friend

The success story continues:

FORVIA HELLA