Too bad, its only available in the US on BMW 5-, 6- and 7-Series models and the Mercedes-Benz S-Class sedan.
Take rates of night-vision systems historically have been modest compared with other advanced features, with penetration in the U.S. lagging behind that in Europe and Japan.
Stockholm-based Autoliv and partner FLIR Systems Inc. of Goleta, CA, which ships 120,000 night-vision systems annually for numerous applications, predicts this will change after the supplier's second- generation system debuts next year on an '09 model.
Sales will soar to as many as 1 million units annually in five years, up from 20,000 currently, says Stuart Klapper, managing director- Autoliv Electronics Night Vision, declining to specify which model will be first to offer the new system.
The biggest impediment to higher sales currently is the steep, $2,200 average cost for the technology, which most commonly is offered only on certain high-end luxury vehicles. At present, night vision only is available in the U.S. on BMW 5-, 6- and 7-Series models and the Mercedes-Benz S-Class sedan. ...