Sep 21 2007
It had to happen sooner or later. With all the attention being given to gleaming chrome wheels, someone would have to figure out a way to show them off at night.
That someone is a little company called Automiq Power & Light (TM) LLC, (APL). APL makes a product called a "GloRyder (TM) Wheel Light". So what is a GloRyder Wheel Light? The GloRyder is a custom chromed aluminum device that replaces a wheel center cap and lights up the entire face of the wheel.
The best thing about it is you don't have to replace your wheels, just the center cap. However, this is no mere plastic cap replacement. It is a high quality, precision made metal housing containing a sophisticated circuit board, long lasting LED's, a photo sensor, and motion sensor, that turns on the GloRyder only at night.
The design of the chromed cap allows light to shine through the lettering or logo emitting a brilliant hued glow. The effect is spectacular. Imagine sports fans being able to display their team logo and colors on their wheels as they pull into the stadium at night. Corporations, manufacturers, and designers, now have a new means to display their logo on a wheel in the dark.
The market for decorated wheels represents 10 percent, or just over $3 billion of the $31 billion U.S. market for after market equipment. The company also stresses how lighted wheels increase the visibility of a vehicle, particularly as a car approaches an intersection, contributing to traffic safety. Who knows, maybe emergency vehicles with flashing lights and flashing wheels will be among the first users of the GloRyder wheel lights. More likely though, it will be custom car enthusiasts looking for that little something extra.
What does this mean for the world of custom hot rod design and automobile wheels? It's a bold new look for cars and wheels. Car builders and designers have yet another option to trick out their rides with the new glowing wheel style. This may usher in a whole new era for the wheel (at least at night).
CNN first introduced the story to the world November 3, 2005 when the company debuted the "GloRyder" at the 2005 SEMA Show. The product was an instant hit with car and truck fans and was quickly featured in an interview on the Speed Channel. The two years that have passed have been used by the company to field test and perfect the product which is now packaged and ready for release worldwide.
Automiq Power & Light, has continued making inroads into the custom car community by lighting up car wheels at selected show car events across the United States. The GloRyder gathered national, and international attention by winning the "Best New Product, International Award" at the 2006 SEMA show, as well as receiving a number of write ups in various websites, trade, and automobile magazines. Now APL thinks GloRyder is ready for the public eye.
The first deliveries are currently being made to distributors in U.S.A. and Canada, to be followed by Europe, the Middle East, and the Pacific Rim. Retailers will soon be offering the product just in time for the holiday season. All Patents are pending.