Why Mercedes Benz and Volvo were sold in the US in the 80´s with uglier headlights than the on the rest world?

Question

I think they were meant to look uglier and less competitive against the american made cars, but I don´t rememer the cover story. The two nice big rectangular headlights of both Volvo and Merceds where substituted for the US market by 4 smaller headlights. 4 round ones for mercedes, four little rectangular for volvo, The rest of the world at the same time ewas getting the big two rectangular headlights. Does someone remember what was the excuse?

Answer 1

some states had rather archaic headlight laws and many euro. automakers had to change their headlamps to comply

Answer 2

because the rest of the world doesn't require sealed beam headlights. in order to have the sealed beam headlights...it needed a different design than the other countries.