Company History
Driven by legacy, now shaping tomorrow’s lighting innovations
Founded in 1947 by Ken Muth with roots in wood-based products, our company evolved from simple practical products such as basketball backboards, pool tables, pinball machines to making automotive interior parts starting in 1972 via Mike Muth. In 1992, Mike pivoted the company to more high tech and safety base products with the invention of our LED based safety products. Muth invented the Signal Mirror for passive safety for SUVs and in 2006 invented the Blind Spot Detection mirror-based safety feature. What began as a family-owned simple product company has evolved into a high-tech automotive supplier trusted by OEMs and Tier 1s Worldwide.
What has remained a constant tenet of our operations, is our facilities have to be World-class and a leader in efficiency and automation. This allows us to produce millions of parts a year that are inspected inline and repeatable & reliable via robotic lines.
Our journey spans seven decades of evolution and innovation and we’ve maintained an unwavering commitment to engineering excellence, quality manufacturing, and forward-thinking design that anticipates the needs of tomorrow’s lighting landscape.
From Signal Mirrors to Embedded Lighting Systems
Our early innovations set a new standard for driver safety.
In June 2022, we started a new division called Muth Lighting. Our intention once again is to create and disrupt the exterior and interior LED lighting niches that the large Tier 1s don’t pursue because it demands very challenging engineering, smallest form factors, perfectly uniform quality of light with minimum energy usage. These are the same characteristics that made us globally successful with our Blind Spot mirror products.
Today: Integrating Design, Electronics, and Function
Muth lighting specializes in combining mechanical, optical, and electrical systems into next-generation interior and exterior lit and distinctive products.
Our in-house design, prototyping, and manufacturing teams deliver embedded solutions such as:
- Illuminated badging and OEM branding with proprietary reflector and micro-optics technology
- Smart and hidden surfaces that integrate touch, lighting, sensors, and flexible circuits
- Lighting embedded in glass and plastic panels for design, safety, and communication
- Projection systems and thin-line accent lighting that merge form and function
These innovations are not simply decorative; they provide a purposeful interface between the vehicle, the user, and the environment.
Global Production and Scalability
We support global programs through lean, automated manufacturing systems.
Our manufacturing and assembly capabilities use integrated optics, electronics, sensors, and mechanical assemblies. Our facilities utilize Fanuc robotic precision and vertically integrated processes to meet quality, timing, and customization demands from concept through full-scale production. We utilized the PLEX (Rockwell Automation) smart cloud-based manufacturing platform that allows us paperless traceability and real-time knowledge of our global operations. 100% of Muth’s internal disciplines rely on PLEX so we can track every movement of any material and finished products Worldwide. Since 2011, PLEX has been a significant component of our product quality success and management controls.
Looking Ahead
Our legacy is rooted in forward-thinking design.
Today, we work closely with automotive partners to co-develop solutions that support electrification, personalization, brand identity, and user experience. Whether it’s a lighted emblem, a smart surface panel, or a projected welcome animation, we help our customers bring innovation to the road—at scale and with confidence.