A lighting device comprises a plurality of light-emitting devices, which are connected to a communication bus in the motor vehicle and receive successive messages from an electronic control unit. The light-emitting devices of the plurality of light-emitting devices are divided into a plurality of groups. Each group is formed of one or more light-emitting devices. One group is associated with each message. Each message specifies one or more operating parameters for an individual light-emitting device. A light-emitting device that is in the associated group of a received message performs its operation based on the operating parameter(s). The electronic control unit changes the division of the plurality of light-emitting devices in groups at least once during the operation of the lighting device.