Although the new car currently has an information panel that can be used for maps, entertainment and other functions, manufacturers are also beginning to make panels that replace the front dashboard of the driver's seat, such as the latest BMW or the dashboard on the passenger car. It may be a panel manufactured by a Japanese display company.
Replacing traditional dashboards with digital dashboards is a difficult challenge because it requires materials that are more reliable and can withstand temperature changes, while also providing important information to the driver. The manufacture of the dashboard may become More expensive, display suppliers also need higher profits.
Japan Display Corporation, the world's largest supplier of automotive panels, believes that the market's shift to electric vehicles will make digital dashboard screens a key selling point for electric vehicles, as drivers will pay more attention to the interior aesthetics of cars rather than construction.
Holder Gerkens, head of automotive operations at Japan's monitors, said in an interview that 'in the past, almost all about engines, like how many cylinders, how much horsepower, and sound, but what is important for electric vehicles is how you create attraction. Force, and this dashboard can also do what the driver does. 'Digital dashboards are also providing some benefits for driving, such as changing the driving mode and information display, the map will be more in line with the demand. Currently, this The dashboard is mainly used for Audi, Brunswick and some high-end cars of super-run type.
The auto business segment of Japan's display generated 100 billion yen ($900 million) in revenue last year, accounting for about 14% of total revenue. Gerkens said the company expects sales to grow 40% by March 2020.
The Japanese display company, which currently accounts for about 30% of the European automotive market, is actively expanding in the US, Japan and China. For investors, this may be good news. The company's share price fell 32% last year.
According to HIS Markit, the Japanese company dominated 19% of the global $6.7 billion automotive display market last year. LG Display (034220-KR) ranked second, accounting for 14%.
'This is a combination of high diversity and low volume, but automotive-related businesses may offer higher profit margins.' Macquarie Group analyst Damian Thong said: 'Effective use of funds will be a crucial test.'