Marelli and OLEDWorks have received the “Collaborative Partnership of the Year” award at the AutoTech Awards 2025 for their joint development of the digital OLED 2.0 rear light, introduced on the 2024 Audi Q6 e-tron. The award highlights partnerships that bring innovation and technical progress to the automotive industry.
The recognition was announced during a ceremony in Novi, where Steve Muench, Head of Marelli's Lighting business in North America, and Kathleen Miller, Global Director of Marketing at OLEDWorks, accepted the award.
This project marks a collaboration between Marelli, OLEDWorks, and Audi to create a new generation of rear lighting. The digital OLED 2.0 taillight uses 60 individually controlled OLED segments and is connected to the vehicle’s domain-based electronic architecture. This allows the taillight to serve not just a visual function but also as a communication tool, enhancing road safety.
Audi’s digital OLED 2.0 rear lights on the Q6 e-tron allow users to select from eight light signature options, either through the MMI system or the myAudi app. The setup uses CAN-FD communication, connecting the domain controller to the rear lamp gateway with a data speed of 1Mb/s. This allows the OLED display to refresh at 100Hz, exceeding the 60Hz typical of many consumer screens.
Previous OLED panels had a maximum of 10 segments, and each lighting component had a dedicated ECU. The new system reduces component count, space requirements, and energy use, while allowing more control over styling and animation through a centralised interface.
The proximity indication feature, previously seen on other Audi models, has been expanded in the Q6 e-tron. It now includes a communication light that can display static warning signals for accidents or breakdowns using the rear light system.
The taillight system includes a communication feature that can display static warning symbols to alert other drivers in case of road hazards or breakdowns, adding a layer of functionality to the lighting system.
Representatives from both companies noted that the partnership combines system integration and OLED lighting expertise, aiming to support future vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication features.