A self-luminous automobile license plate has recently been developed by technology driven giant 3M. While standard aluminum license plates are unevenly lit by a small number of lights positioned around them, the entire new plastic plate beams brightly from within, making the entire unit highly visible. Drivers can now feel safer when driving at night or in dim light. The more important benefit this new system provides is that of enhancing safety, as the more highly visible license plate helps in avoiding rear-end collisions.

The license plate housing is made of Bayblend®T65 (a blend of polycarbonate & ABS) and incorporates the light source, which is made up of numerous light-emitting diodes (LEDs). The polycarbonate/ABS blend was chosen because it exhibits exceptional dimensional stability, is less prone to distortion, and remains impact-resistant in cold conditions. It also offers excellent heat resistance. The translucent front of the casing, on which the actual license details are positioned, is formed from a 2 millimeter thick sheet of polycarbonate. A special technology is used to give the sheet a matt finish on one side, thus ensuring that the license details are optically isolated from the light distribution system. The sheet also has a special surface layer that enables laser welding to create a long-lasting, tight seal between the sheet and the housing.