With the rapid development of new energy vehicles and automotive intelligence, the smart cockpit has become a focal point for automakers. In enhancing user experience, in-car displays play a crucial role. Mini LED technology, with its advantages in brightness, contrast, and power consumption, is gradually gaining traction in the automotive display sector, meeting the market’s demand for higher image quality.
Recently, Hongqi’s flagship “Guoya” series was unveiled, equipped with a 13.48-inch Mini LED backlight display provided by BOE MLED. This marks the first mass-production application of BOE’s Mini LED technology in automotive displays.
Hongqi’s 1.4 Million Yuan Models Featuring BOE Mini LED Backlight Displays
The price range for the Hongqi Guoya series is between 1.4 million and 1.86 million yuan. This series is equipped with a 13.48-inch Mini LED backlight display, provided by BOE MLED.
According to reports, through BOE’s advanced local dimming technology, the Hongqi Guoya display achieves higher contrast and brightness, supporting high dynamic range (HDR) displays. The Mini LED display module from BOE MLED also boasts a long lifespan and good shock resistance.
BOE MLED claims that it has completed full integration of the industrial chain, capable of providing complete solutions from LED chips to display modules. Currently, BOE MLED’s business covers applications in conferences, commercial displays, indoor and outdoor advertising, stage rentals, cinemas, XR virtual filming, and more. Additionally, backlight technologies are used in TVs, commercial displays, monitors, laptops, and automotive displays.
It is worth mentioning that in addition to the Hongqi Guoya series, the Zeekr 7X, launched in October, also features a 16-inch Mini LED floating screen, using Refond Optoelectronics’ Mini LED COB backlight solution. Furthermore, the Xiaomi SU7, released in April, is equipped with a 16.1-inch TCL CSOT Mini LED backlight central control screen.
As more automakers recognize the immense potential of Mini LED technology in enhancing display performance, Mini LED technology is expected to penetrate more high-end vehicle models, opening up broader development opportunities in the automotive sector. The demand for Mini LED backlighting in automotive displays is increasing. By 2028, the penetration rate of Mini LED backlight technology in the automotive sector is expected to reach 6%, with shipments reaching approximately 15 million units, nearly ten times higher than in 2024.
Panel Manufacturers Accelerating Layouts in Automotive Displays
As market demand grows rapidly, the innovation of automotive display technology is driving the development of the entire industry chain. The traditional automotive display supply chain includes panel manufacturers, module manufacturers, system integrators, and OEMs (original equipment manufacturers), with OEMs relaying demand via Tier 1 suppliers. As automotive displays evolve toward larger screens, multi-screen layouts, and higher technologies, the importance of display technology is growing. To improve efficiency and reduce costs, OEMs are beginning to collaborate directly with panel manufacturers and module manufacturers, bypassing Tier 1 suppliers, and restructuring the supply chain.
Currently, automotive display technologies include LCD, OLED, Mini LED, and Micro LED. Although LCD remains mainstream, as the automotive industry transitions to the “new four modernizations” (electrification, networking, automation, and intelligence), Mini LED and Micro LED are gradually showing their advantages.
Among these, Mini LED technology has already started to be applied in high-end models. In addition to the previously mentioned Hongqi Guoya, Zeekr 7X, and Xiaomi SU7, models such as the YANGWANG U8, Rising Auto R7 (Feifan R7), NIO ET7, Mercedes-Benz Vision EQXX, Li Auto L7, Li Auto L9, Lincoln’s new Navigator, Cadillac LYRIQ, and the third-generation SAIC Roewe RX5 have all begun to use Mini LED displays, with these models being launched between 2021 and 2024.
As for Micro LED technology, with its higher brightness, contrast, color performance, and lower power consumption, it is considered the future trend of automotive display technology. Panel manufacturers such as BOE, TCL CSOT, Shenzhen Tianma, AUO, and Innolux are focusing on Micro LED as a key area for development to secure a competitive advantage in the future automotive display market.
In September of this year, BOE launched the world’s first P0.3 Micro LED automotive display screen. This display uses LTPS pixel driving instead of Micro IC pixel driving, featuring a curved, bezel-free design with an environmental contrast ratio of 40,000:1, peak brightness of over 2000 nits, and high color gamut and refresh rate.
As BOE Varitronix, the global automotive business platform of BOE, its Vietnam automotive display production base completed its first trial production on December 6. Additionally, the 6-inch Micro LED production line of BOE HC SemiTek in Zhuhai was launched on November 6, showcasing significant advantages in MPD packaging, mass transfer, and color conversion technologies.
TCL CSOT has also recently launched innovative Micro LED automotive displays, including a 10.25-inch Micro LED human-machine interface HUD (Head-Up Display). TCL CSOT has revealed that its joint venture with San’an Optoelectronics in Quanzhou, Extremely Display, has made substantial progress in the commercialization of Micro LED technology. The company is also preparing plans for Micro LED pilot production lines.
Shenzhen Tianma continues to invest in the automotive display market. In June, Xiamen Tianma Optoelectronics and Tianma New Display Technology Institute jointly held a display product lighting event, showcasing automotive instrument displays, HD displays, and Micro LED displays, marking the trial production phase of its 8.6th generation new display panels and Micro LED production lines.
AUO and Innolux, two Taiwanese manufacturers, are also actively promoting Micro LED technology for automotive display applications.
In April of this year, AUO completed the acquisition of the German automotive components supplier BHTC, and the two companies plan to showcase a new smart cockpit integrating Micro LED technology and humanized interaction design at CES 2025. AUO’s 4.5th generation Micro LED production line is expected to reach mass production by 2025. Meanwhile, Innolux is building a Micro LED production line.
Conclusion
By investing in Mini/Micro LED technologies, panel manufacturers can enhance their competitiveness in the automotive display field, meeting the market’s demand for high-performance display technologies. At the same time, manufacturers’ investments are driving the deep integration and development of Mini/Micro LED with automotive smart cockpits, further accelerating the transition toward intelligence and premiumization in the automotive industry.
With technological breakthroughs and the increasing demand for automotive displays, by 2028, the Micro LED chip market is expected to grow to $489 million, signaling a promising market outlook. This growth trend not only reflects the penetration of Micro LED technology into the automotive display market but also suggests that automotive smart cockpit displays will become clearer and more energy-efficient.
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