Electronics majors to unveil various SDV technologies

LG Display Unveils Automotive Display Solutions Optimized for SDVs at CES 2024 [Courtesy of LG Display]

South Korean electronics majors such as Samsung and LG are accelerating their efforts to introduce various technologies optimized for software-defined vehicles (SDVs), also known as “smartphones on wheels,” as SDVs become a focal point in the mobility industry.

The upcoming Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2024, the world’s largest consumer electronics and information technology (IT) exhibition set to open on January 9, 2024, in Las Vegas, the United States, is expected to be a battleground for advanced technologies from these Korean electronics companies.

LG Display Co. plans to showcase SDV-optimized vehicle control and infotainment displays at the event, the company said on Monday. LG Display will present solutions featuring plastic organic light-emitting diode (P-OLED) and low-temperature polycrystalline silicon liquid crystal display (LTPS LCD) technologies, proposing ultra-large-sized vehicle displays that fill the entire dashboard.

P-OLED is a premium lineup with flexible plastic substrates, providing lightweight and bendable high-quality displays, and LTPS LCD has advantages in large-scale and high-resolution implementations. The company will also introduce a switchable privacy mode (SPM) technology that adjusts the display’s viewing angle to assist the driver’s forward vision.

Samsung Display Co. is set to exhibit OLED solutions for vehicles combined with next-generation innovative technologies such as foldable, slidable, and rollable displays. Samsung Display strengthened its collaboration with global automakers, including MINI, Ferrari S.p.A., and Hyundai Motor Co., at the IAA Mobility 2023, the world’s largest mobility event, in Germany in September 2023.

Technologies that will drive the popularization of SDVs in the telecommunication and semiconductor sectors will also be highlighted at CES. LG Electronics Inc.’s next-generation transparent antenna for vehicles is a prominent example. LG Electronics collaborated with Saint-Gobain Sekurit, a global automotive glazing manufacturer, to develop a transparent antenna that can be attached or inserted into transparent glass. It is suitable for SDVs as it can transmit copious amounts of data using minimal space.

LG Innotek Co. will present software technology that enables real-time performance control and management of vehicle components based on data collected during vehicle operation, while Samsung Electronics Co.’s Device Solutions (DS) division will showcase products with high performance, low power consumption, and high reliability. The lineup includes memory semiconductors optimized for vehicles, such as low-power double data rate (LP DDR) 5X and auto solid-state drives (SSDs), as well as next-generation premium in-vehicle infotainment (IVI) processors like ‘Exynos Auto V920’ and vehicle image sensors ‘ISOCELL Auto’ and ‘ISOCELL Vizion.’

Samsung Electronics subsidiary Harman International Industries Inc., which recorded its largest-ever performance in 2023, will also set up an exhibition space alongside Samsung Electronics’ booth at CES.

There is also growing competition in the automotive industry over operating systems (OS). OS plays a crucial role in integrating various software functionalities dispersed across in-car features such as infotainment, autonomous driving, and engine control. Hyundai Motor Group, including Hyundai Motor and Kia Corp., plans to unveil its proprietary SDV OS solution developed by 42dot Inc, a SDV unit under the group. The brand name is also expected to be revealed. The Korean auto giant has also unveiled its goal to transition all vehicle models to SDVs by 2025.