Automotive

MicroLED display developer VueReal announced a partnership with automotive supplier Continental to showcase innovative automotive display designs based on VueReal's microLED technology.

VueReal did not say much about this joint project with Continental, but it is likely that Continental will develop and demonstrate microLED-based automotive displays based using displays provided by VueReal. In January 2024 Continental demonstrated its first microLED automotive display prototype, the CrystalCenter Display which is based on a 10" microLED display, but we do not know whether it was supplied by VueReal or a different microLED developer.

The European New Car Assessment Program (NCAP), an independent (and voluntary) automotive safety body is set to introduce new rules in January 2026 that will require vehicles to go back to physical controls rather than touchscreens in order to achieve the NCEP five-star safety rating.

NCAP says that car makers are overusing touchscreens, to the point where almost all key controls of the cars (such as HVAC, wipers, hazard lights and more) are now done via the touchscreen rather than by physical knobs, dials, and buttons. Drivers are reportedly complaining that this is annoying - but also dangerous as it diverts your attention from driving into looking to the screen, to go over menus and choices.

Continental demonstrated its first microLED automotive display prototype. The so-called CrystalCenter Display is based on a 10" microLED display, 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.

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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: