PARIS — At the International Grands Prix Awards for Automotive Innovation ceremony held last night, Valeo won the Gold award in the Original Equipment category for its BeamAtic Premium lighting system.

BeamAtic Premium, Valeo’s adaptive front lighting system, revolutionizes driving in the dark, offering drivers optimal visual comfort in all driving conditions. The high beam remains switched on all the time but without dazzling oncoming vehicle drivers.

Using a camera placed behind the rear view mirror, the system detects another vehicle in the zone of the headlight beam and a mobile shield is then positioned to mask the part of the beam covering the zone occupied by the other vehicle. The other driver is therefore not dazzled because, from his point of view, the high beam appears as low beam.

Valeo’s BeamAtic Premium system will be launched in its Xenon version in 2010.