The rules may change, but automakers still hope so.
For years, U.S. regulations have been a problem for automakers. There is an effort to convince the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration of its outdated headlight rule. Adaptive driving beams are illegal in the U.S. and are affecting cars on sale today like the Cadillac XT6.
Cadillac provides the technology for the XT6’s upgraded frontlight package. However, it is not lost for existing XT6 owners. Cadillac Society claims that the automaker is able to enable the technology via a flash update at their dealership. This update would enable North American XT6 headlights with high beams to continue working, improving nighttime visibility and actively reducing the glare for oncoming drivers. You get the best of both without blinding others drivers.Lighting technology has been around over a decade and automakers have been fighting the NHTSA since then. Audi is reported to have fought U.S. regulations since at least 2013, when it tried to get its Matrix Beam beam headlights approved for U.S roads. In October 2018, the NHTSA stated that it would be looking into changing its rules to allow adaptive beam headlights. In mid-2019, NHTSA stated that it was developing new regulations for lighting technology. Cadillac and other automakers will be prepared for implementation of the rules if and when the NHTSA does.