Automotive

MicroLED displays are very attractive for automotive applications, as they enable thin, highly efficient, bright, flexible and long-lasting displays. The automotive market is capable of adopting premium display technologies, and so is one of the key target markets for many microLED displays developers.

Continental Swarovski CrystalCenter Display prototype

Many companies have demonstrated automotive microLED display prototypes over the past years - for example AUO in 2023 showed a 16.1" automotive transparent microLED that is a 'blended' display - one that is hidden into the dashboard when not in use. In early 2024, the company showed a transparent microLED automotive display that is embedded inside windows. In 2024, Innolux also unveiled a new microLED automotive display prototype - in fact a complete instrument cluster display made from microLED panels. Continental demonstrated a 10" microLED display embedded inside a crystal housing, developed in collaboration with Swarovski.

MicroLED automotive displays are highly promising - but it is likely to take years before the technology would reach actual production. 

The latest automotive microLED news:

Continental shows a 10" microLED automotive display embedded in a crystal housing

Continental demonstrated its first microLED automotive display prototype. The so-called CrystalCenter Display is based on a 10" microLED display (we do not know the actual display producer), that is housed inside a crystal housing, developed in collaboration with Swarovski. The company says that this display offers a stylish frameless and semi-transparent look.

Continental says it chose a microLED display for this project, as its offers much greater brightness compared to other display technologies. Continental did not detail any commercialization plans for such a display - and it's likely that there are no such plans in the near future.

Read the full story Posted: Jan 16,2024

Innolux shows new an automotive microLED display based instrument cluster

CarUX, a subsidiary of Innolux, is demonstrating new microLED automotive display prototypes at CES 2024. The main demonstration is the Pixiu 3 premium, shown below.

This complete cockpit system utilizes Innolux's unique Micro LED COB (Chip on Board) to offer high brightness, high contrast ratio, rapid response, and high color saturation - in addition to very high efficiency. Innolux says that it aims to meet the requirements of power consumption features and advanced automotive markets.

Read the full story Posted: Jan 06,2024

AUO shows new automotive microLED display prototypes at CES 2024

AUO is demonstrating several new displays at CES 2024, including some new automotive microLEDs.

The first display is a new touch-enabled transparent microLED panel that is integrated in vehicle side windows. AUO did not disclose any technical specifications. In the past, AUO demonstrated many transparent microLEDs, including a 13.5" 1920x1080 panel shown in 2023, with a transparency of 55% and a high brightness of 5,000 nits. The microLEDs used in that display were 30 micron in size.

Read the full story Posted: Jan 04,2024

DSCC: the microLED display market to reach $1.4 billion by 2028, led by TV, wearables, automotive and AR displays

DSCC estimates that the microLED display market will reach $1.4 billion by 2028, led by TVs and wearables. Other applications will include AR glasses and automotive displays (these do not appear in the graph below).

DSCC believes that MicroLED displays will offer superior performance, but its high price will keep it from being a mainstream technology in the near future. The first microLED smartwatch will launch in 2024, but it will target the high-end of the market and volumes will remain low. 

Read the full story Posted: Nov 21,2023

AUO reiterates its plans to mass produce microLED smartwatch displays by the end of 2023, to expand microLEDs to TVs and Automotives

During the company's latest conference call, AU Optronics made some interesting remarks on its microLED project. First of all, the company intends to continue investing in micro-LED technologies going forward. That's not a surprise. Second, the company re-iterated its plans to mass produce microLED smartwatch displays by the end of 2023.

AUO also says it plans to apply microLED displays to an "increasing number of high end TV and automotive display products". AUO will increase its microLED display range and make it commercially available to more products and applications. As far as we know, this is the first time that AUO discusses microLED TVs.

Read the full story Posted: Nov 01,2023

TrendForce: the microLED chip market is set to grow at a 136% CAGR, to reach $580 million in 2027

Market Research firm Trendforce predicts that microLED chip sales will reach $27 million in 2023, a growth of almost 100 compared to 2022 ($14 million). Trendforce says that the market is expected to actually accelerate its growth, and grow at a CAGR of 136% from 2022 to 2027, reaching $580 million in 2027. 

Of course not just the LED chip market will grow - the entire ecosystem, including production equipment, backplanes, and more.

Read the full story Posted: Aug 12,2023

Omdia: the cost of 10 inch to 14 inch microLED panels will drop 75% by 2027, but will remain too high for most applications

Market research firm Omdia says that the price of microLED display panels is set to drop 75% by 2027. Omdia is referring to small 10-14 inch displays, which currently cost around $5,800 for a 10" panel, or $10,0000 for a 14.6" one.

Omdia expects the price of a 10" panel to drop to $1,277 in 2027, and a 14.6" panel to $2,400. That's an impressive price reduction in 4 years, but the prices of such panels will still be very high - much higher than comparable LCD or OLED displays today. Omdia thinks that at such price levels, some niche applications like high-performance laptops or automotive displays may fuel demand for MicroLED displays.

Read the full story Posted: Aug 01,2023

The MicroLED Industry Association to host an automotive display webinar

On September 4th the MicroLED Industry Association will host a private webinar on automotive displays and technologies. The automotive market represents a very good segment for microLED developers, as it offers high performance requirements, relative microLED maturity and the ability to adopt premium solutions.

Mercedes EQE 350 2022, interior photo

During the webinar, we will look at current solutions and future roadmaps, learn how the automotive industry looks at display solutions and next-generation technologies and see how microLEDs could find a market in the automotive industry.

The upcoming Seminar will feature three world-leading speakers, and will also be open to a Q&A session, to help increase microLED developers knowledge and involvement in the automotive industry:

Read the full story Posted: Jun 29,2023

AU Optronics may close down its OLED fab as it focuses on microLED display technologies

According to reports from Japan, AUO is thinking about closing down its 4.5-Gen AMOLED production line in Singapore, as the company is shifting its focus on microLED display technologies.

AUO's first target it to start producing wearable microLED displays. It has reportedly signed a deal with Tag Heuer to supply it with smartwatch displays. In April 2023 AUO 'launched' its wearable microLED display, and it seems it is ready to begin small scale production. It will take time for AUO to expand production, as the path towards low-cost and mass-production of microLED displays (even for applications such as smartwatches) it not clear yet. 

Read the full story Posted: Jun 22,2023

JBD succesfully raised its A4 strategic financing round

According to reports from China, MicroLED microdisplay developer Jade Bird Display has successfully raised its A4 strategic financing round. It is reported that together with the A3 round which closed last year, the company raised "hundreds of millions of Yuan" (which could mean anything from $30 million USD to $130 million). 

JBD's investors include Alibaba, Samsung, BYD and Geely. BYD is said to be working with JBD to develop MicroLED automotive applications.

Read the full story Posted: Jun 13,2023