It's 2026, and the automotive industry continues to change at an impressive rate. Cars are becoming smarter, more saturated with electronics, and are increasingly taking on functions that previously depended entirely on the driver. Along with this, lighting technology is also evolving - one of the key elements of safety and communication on the road.
LED headlights have long become commonplace, xenon doesn't surprise anyone, and halogen is even considered a thing of the past. The usual picture is this: the headlights either shine yellow or cold white light. The shade depends on the technology - halogen, xenon, or LEDs, which are often installed in optics not originally designed for this type of lamp.
The result is familiar to everyone: improperly adjusted light that blinds oncoming drivers. Because of this, night trips on the highway turn into a test for many - driving becomes uncomfortable and simply dangerous.
A New Color on the Roads
However, at the end of 2023, a completely new visual element appeared in the automotive world - the teal color in lighting technology. Moreover, it is used not selectively, but immediately in several elements: both in the front and rear optics of the car.
For many drivers, the first encounter with such light was unexpected. For example, Chinese Lixiang L9 crossovers are increasingly appearing on the roads, which stand out precisely with their teal lights. It looks unusual, even futuristic, and inevitably attracts the attention of others. A logical question arises: why is such a color needed at all?
Where Did Teal Light Come From
If you look at the history of the issue, it turns out that it was not Chinese brands that were the pioneers at all. For the first time, the teal color in automotive lighting technology was officially presented at the end of 2023 on the German Mercedes-Benz EQS and S-Class models.
The company explained the choice of shade with two key reasons. Firstly, teal light is clearly visible to other road users. Secondly, it cannot be confused with the usual light sources on the road - traffic lights, brake lights, or emergency vehicle signals. In other words, this is a deliberately chosen "free" color that has not previously been used in the road environment.
What Does Teal Color Mean
The main meaning of this decision is not in the design. Teal parking lights light up when the automated driving system is activated, in simpler terms - autopilot. This is how other drivers can visually understand that the car is moving under the control of electronics, not a person.
Mercedes-Benz EQS and S-Class are just equipped with such systems. A similar automated driving technology is also implemented in Lixiang L9, so the appearance of teal light in the Chinese model is quite logical.
Is It Legal?
And this is where the difficulties begin. In some countries, such lighting technology is still in the "gray area" of legislation. For example, the Russian traffic rules clearly state that parking lights must be white, yellow, or lunar in color. There is not a word about the teal shade in the regulatory documents.
Even Mercedes-Benz itself in 2023 received official permission to operate cars with teal parking lights only in two US states - California and Nevada. Presumably, since then, the regulatory framework in different countries has gradually adapted to new technologies, but this process is not fast.
It is important to take into account the fact that cars with full-fledged automated driving systems are not officially supplied to Russia. Most of these cars on public roads are the result of parallel imports, which further complicates the legal status of unusual lighting technology.