Abstract: A trim means for a motor vehicle comprises a carrier having a B side and a C side. A recess is formed into the B side of the carrier, and the carrier has an aperture in the region at the edge of the recess. A planar lighting unit comes to lie flush in the recess on the B side of the carrier, so that on the B side of the carrier a substantially continuous planar surface of the carrier with the lighting unit is produced. The lighting unit has a connection cable which is guided through the aperture to the C side of the carrier, where it is connected with a plug connector, a further conductor or directly with a control unit. A cover layer is applied onto the B side of the carrier and covers the planar lighting unit and at least a portion of the surface of the carrier. The cover layer forms the visible side of the trim means and is permeable to the light emitted from the lighting unit.

Abstract: The invention relates to a trim means for a motor vehicle having integrated lighting system and a method for its manufacture, wherein the trim means cannot be perceived by the passenger of the motor vehicle as long as the lighting system is not active. In addition, the trim means according to the invention should be simple in construction and able to be manufactured at a favourable cost. The trim means according to the invention comprises a carrier having a B side and a C side. The carrier can consist of plastic, in particular of a rigid foam material, a fibre composite material or another material. A recess is formed into the B side of the carrier, and the carrier has an aperture in the region of or in the vicinity of this recess. Preferably, the aperture lies at the edge of the recess. A planar lighting unit comes to lie flush in the recess on the B side of the carrier, so that on the B side of the carrier a substantially continuous planar surface of the carrier with the lighting unit is produced.