Vehicle instrument panel equipped with a light sensor for detecting an illuminated pointer position

A vehicle (10) instrument panel assembly (12) configured to determine an orientation angle of an illuminated pointer (24) of the assembly (12). The assembly (12) includes a pointer (24), and a sensor (32). The pointer (24) is configured to emit light (28) and rotate about a display surface (20) of the assembly (12) to point to indicia (22) on the display surface (20). The sensor (32) is configured to detect light (28) emitted by the pointer (24) when the pointer (24) is oriented at a predetermined orientation angle relative to the display surface (20).