AUO's CES 2025 Smart Cockpit is a microLED Festival

AUO’s CES 2025 Smart Cockpit is a microLED Festival

Chris Chinnock
January 25, 2025
6:38 pm
Automotive, CES, Head-up Display, LCD, Light Engines, News, Videos

I’m at CES 2025 in the AUO booth, where they are showcasing an impressive concept cockpit featuring microLED-based displays. Here are the key highlights:

Driver’s Display

Positioned in front of the driver with a folding mechanism that allows it to retract into the cockpit for convenience.

Transparent MicroLED Displays

Four separate panels run pillar-to-pillar above the dashboard.
Each display: ~13-inch diagonal, Full HD resolution (~163 PPI).
Even at close range, pixelation is minimal—very impressive.

Center Console Armrest

Features a flexible substrate with microLEDs.
Surface has a cloth-like texture for tactile feedback.
Buttons are raised for physical interaction but can be reprogrammed for touch-only operation.

Rear Seat Entertainment

Four touch-enabled microLED displays integrated into side windows.
Interactive content includes a cat playing with yarn, rendered in Unreal Engine.
AI inference engine developed by AUO in collaboration with a university.

Privacy and Immersion

Black switch activates a PDLC (Polymer Dispersed Liquid Crystal) layer, making windows opaque—similar to tech used in sunroofs.
Immersive mode: Displays fireworks across two large microLED sunroofs, showcasing creative possibilities.

Advertising and Commerce

Interactive advertising demo allows users to engage with content and even make purchases.

Partnership with BHTC

AUO collaborates with BHTC, a German automotive integrator and parts supplier.
Developed a cockpit domain controller that manages multiple displays from a single unit—eliminates need for separate controllers.
Demonstrator vehicle includes:
- Large side mirrors with camera feeds displayed on portrait LCD screens.
- Newly developed cockpit controller.

Production and Future Plans

AUO aims to become a tier-one supplier, offering complete solutions to OEMs.
BHTC already mass-produces:
- 12.3-inch center console display with integrated Bluetooth.
- Switchable privacy film for displays (less than 1% visibility), already used in Audi vehicles.

Summary: AUO’s CES 2025 showcase demonstrates how microLED technology can transform automotive interiors—from immersive entertainment to advanced privacy features and integrated control systems.