LG Display is reportedly planning to adjust its production line configuration by converting its iPad OLED panel production lines to manufacture iPhone OLED panels. This decision comes in response to lower-than-expected iPad Pro demand, according to The Elec.

Laster and Excellence Optoelectronics (Excellence), the Taiwan-based LED automotive module manufacturers, have posted record-breaking revenues for 2024, with year-over-year growth rates of 10.2% and 28.2%, respectively. In response to the global trend of diversifying automotive supply chains, Laster plans to collaborate with Taiwan-based manufacturers in Thailand and Mexico starting in 2025. Meanwhile, Excellence is accelerating the construction of its plant in Mexico, which is expected to be completed in the third quarter of 2025, with production scheduled to begin in 2026.

Taiwan's LED pioneer, Ennostar, made its CES debut at CES 2025, unveiling cutting-edge matrix Mini RGB LED displays. The technology features an impressive brightness of 5,000 nits, ensuring crystal-clear visibility even under intense sunlight, making it ideal for automotive driving environments.

Innolux unveiled its next-generation microLED and miniLED display innovations at CES 2025, including the "106-inch AM-micro LED seamless display module" and the debut of the "9.6-inch micro LED Smart Mirror." The showcase also featured the latest "17.3-inch and 23.8-inch mini LED outdoor displays," emphasizing a bold vision for transforming visual experiences.

At this year's CES, TCL held a press conference showcasing its latest QLED TV product line and introducing a new generation of Mini LED display technology. In the mobile device sector, the company unveiled its latest mobile display technologies and 5G smartphone products.

LED manufacturer Ennostar achieved its third-highest annual revenue of NT$24.39 billion (US$772.5 million) in 2024, representing a year-over-year increase of 9.3%. However, the company maintains a cautious stance due to uncertain industry conditions and limited order visibility for the first quarter of 2025.

Mini LED backlight televisions are gaining momentum in China, with penetration rates exceeding 10%. These TVs have emerged as standout products under China's "trade-in" subsidy program, propelled by production cost reductions that have broadened their appeal in the mid-range market. Hisense has solidified its leadership position, benefiting from this growing trend.

Despite setbacks such as low demand in the end-user market, price slashing in the automotive market, and sluggishness during the traditional peak season for the consumer electronics industry, Taiwanese LED firms have actively sought growth momentum in 2024 by shifting more toward high-value product lines.

AUO and its subsidiary BHTC will showcase a smart cockpit at CES 2025, under the theme "Infinite Future, Unlimited Possibilities." They will debut a groundbreaking seamless integration of Micro LED transparent displays, into a large Virtual Sky Canopy and the XR Interactive Window that features multiple functions including touch and sensing capabilities.

Honda and the financially troubled Nissan have announced plans to merge, with Mitsubishi Motors expected to decide on its participation within the month. While speculation suggests the Honda-Nissan merger talks aim to prevent Foxconn from gaining involvement with Nissan, past acquisitions involving Japanese corporations have yielded mixed results, potentially influencing the outcome of this proposed merger.

The global display panel industry is currently experiencing a significant turning point as production lines transition into a phase of replacement and adjustment. Has the closure of outdated factories become a "necessary pain" for the display industry to transition toward transformation and upgrading?

In 2024, the optoelectronics industry faced challenging market conditions. Despite this, OLED panels are expanding from smartphones into tablets, PCs, and other IT products, driving investments from major players. Microdisplays, automotive panels, and glass substrates are also gaining traction, with competition expected to intensify post-2025.

Despite the rebound in LCD demand driving panel manufacturers' utilization rates, the weak demand for OLED TVs is expected to hinder improvements in utilization rates for OLED panel factories during the first half of 2024. Analysts suggest that the display industry has entered a growth cycle dominated by IT OLEDs, and with the widespread adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) promoting low-power trends, OLED growth is still anticipated to continue.

According to Theelec, Samsung Display has begun selling off LCD equipment through Samsung C&T starting November 2024, following its complete exit from the LCD business in 2022 and subsequent transition to OLED display production. The sale includes automatic packaging, cutting and cleaning machines, and a transportation system from its L8 factory, with some equipment already dismantled as of November.

In a strategic move to diversify its display supply chain, Apple has selected Tianma Microelectronics to provide 7-inch LCD panels for its upcoming screen-equipped HomePod, scheduled for release in 2025. The Chinese manufacturer secured the contract with an aggressive pricing of US$10 per unit, which industry observers note is exceptionally competitive even among Chinese suppliers.

The patent dispute between Samsung Display (SDC) and BOE has intensified, with each company initiating lawsuits in the US and China. Meanwhile, the geopolitical climate, especially the tensions between the US and China, further complicates this industry rivalry and may affect panels' supply chain and pricing dynamics.

LG Display (LGD) and Samsung Display (SDC) dominate high-end OLED technology, but their reliance on Apple orders faces pressure from cheaper Chinese OLED panels supplied to local IT firms.

Macroblock, a leading LED driver IC manufacturer, has successfully entered China's electric vehicle (EV) supply chain in 2024. With its automotive product line steadily advancing, the company anticipates 2025 as a breakout year, marking a significant revenue increase.

As a new member of the SEMI Silicon Photonics Industry Alliance (SiPhIA), Brightek is actively expanding its international presence, promoting its latest EVO ICLED products in markets such as China, the US, Germany, and South Korea. Despite lower-than-projected automotive and notebook demand in 2024, the company plans to deliver samples of its next-generation ICLED to automotive customers by year-end, targeting integration into new vehicle models launching by the end of 2025.

The visibility of automotive product orders for LED manufacturer Edison is projected to extend throughout 2025, instilling confidence in the growth momentum of automotive orders. The company anticipates that both its LED lighting and automotive businesses will experience double-digit growth in 2025, particularly with finished product applications expected to achieve a compound annual growth rate of 20%.

Fan-out panel level packaging (FOPLP) is a promising semiconductor technology that has been attracting investments from Taiwan's supply chains, including IC foundries, OSATs, panel manufacturers, and IC substrate suppliers.

As AI technology advances, demand for electronic product upgrades is boosting panel shipments, with OLED adoption and niche applications driving growth in the display industry. The Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) forecasts Taiwan's display panel industry will reach NT$791.8 billion (approx. US$24.3 billion) in 2024, up 2% year-over-year, and NT$812.9 billion in 2025, up 2.6%. Globally, the display panel market is expected to be valued at US$118 billion in 2024, a 9.8% yearly increase, and US$124.5 billion by 2025, up 5.5%.

LED manufacturer Ledtech turned a profit in the first three quarters of 2024, following a reorganization of its business and marketing operations earlier in the year. The company is now focusing on high-margin products such as low-temperature lighting, with this segment's revenue share climbing from 14% in the third quarter of 2023 to 29% in the third quarter of 2024. Targeting markets in the Americas and Europe, Ledtech is expanding its own brand and officially entering the ESG sustainable lighting field.

Ennostar ended its streak of eight consecutive quarterly losses in the third quarter of 2024, despite experiencing a weaker-than-usual peak season. The turnaround was achieved through increased revenue, higher gross margins, and additional non-operating gains. Paul Peng, the chairperson of Ennostar, attributed the improvement to the company's shift toward high-value products and reduced idle capacity.

Taiwan is gradually positioning itself as a global leader in Micro LED development, driven by extensive investments in core areas like epitaxial wafers, TFT substrates, mass transfer, and full-color display technologies. However, with OLED technology advancing rapidly, Taiwan must redouble innovation efforts to sustain the competitiveness of Micro LED technology.