Osram sees surge in demand for replacement HID bulbs
Osram has revealed that its sales of HID bulbs are growing in popularity, as some customers are seeing a 50 per cent increase in sales.
First introduced in 1991, when the development of the D1 xenon HID bulb revolutionised headlight brightness and efficiency, HID bulbs quickly became a common bulb to use in vehicle headlights, with the BMW 7 series the first to debut the worlds first xenon headlamp system.
While technology has evolved since then and factory fitted lighting in new cars are now typically moving towards LED, there are still millions of cars that have HID bulbs fitted as standard and many more that will require replacement due to failure and end of life.
Osram’s HIDs typically use less energy and have a longer life span than halogen bulbs. Throughout the 1990’s and 2000’s, HID lighting rapidly spread from luxury flagships to mainstream models.
Manufacturers and lighting specialists worked in tandem to refine the technology, developing compact bulb formats and advanced electronic ballasts that would soon become industry standards. As demand surged, Osram played a pivotal role in delivering world class HID solutions, helping shape the technology as it moved from specialist innovation to an everyday essential.
Today, Osram’s XENARC HID range carries forward a legacy of innovation backed by decades of expertise and a reputation built on OE quality. Products that are prominent in this portfolio include the XENARC Night Breaker 220, which is Osram’s brightest HID upgrade bulb. It has a 250 metre long beam and up to 20 per cent whiter light, allowing drivers to see further and, therefore, respond to the conditions on the road earlier.
If a driver is looking for more, whiter light, Osram offers the XENARC Cool Blue Intense range, which also offers up to 150 per cent more brightness than the minimum legal standard.
However, if a driver is focused on a reliable bulb that will last a very long time, OSRAM’s XENARC Ultra Life, has a 10 year guarantee, which is up to four times longer than a standard HID bulb, providing the driver extra reassurance and saving them costs in the long run.
Finally Osram has the XENARC Original range, which has a four year guarantee and is OE quality. These bulbs fit a variety of vehicles, and are of premium quality manufactured in Germany and the same as those fitted at point of manufacturing.
Osram marketing manager, Terri Clark, commented: “While our HID range has always been a solid range to stock as it has been consistently popular since the 90’s, in the last few months, our customers have reported that the demand has grown tremendously.
“We’re unsure if the winter selling period has grown this year, or if it’s a general life cycle thing, but we’re happy to provide our customers, garages, workshops and drivers with a HID solution for all driving styles.”
Osram will be exhibiting at the 2026 Auto Trade EXPO, which takes place alongside the CV Workshop EXPO from 10th -11th October at the RDS Simmonscourt in Dublin.