Aspects of the disclosure include variable transmittance laminates having an embedded thermally conductive multi-layer for auto-shading applications. An exemplary vehicle includes a lighting system having a light source and a housing for the light source. A variable transmittance laminate is positioned such that light emitted from the housing passes through the variable transmittance laminate. The variable transmittance laminate includes a thermally conductive multi-layer and an auto-shading film on the thermally conductive multi-layer. The auto-shading film includes discrete substructures which vary in alignment in response to an electric field. A wire is embedded in the auto-shading film and a controller is electrically coupled to the wire. The controller switchably causes the wire to deliver the electric field to the discrete substructures. The variable transmittance laminate has a first transmittance when a switch is in a first state and a second transmittance when the switch in in a second state.