LG Electronics Supplies World's First P-OLED Based Digital Cockpit to Cadillac

LG Electronics will be the first in the world to supply the plastic OLED (P-OLED)-based 'Digital Cockpit' system to Cadillac, the premium brand of global automaker GM.

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[Asia Economy Reporter Dongwoo Lee] LG Electronics will become the world's first to supply a plastic OLED (P-OLED)-based 'digital cockpit' system to GM's premium brand 'Cadillac' vehicles. This is the first time that P-OLED, instead of liquid crystal display (LCD), has been installed in a global automaker's vehicle.

On the 6th, LG Electronics announced that it will supply the 'digital cockpit' system, composed of an ultra-high-resolution P-OLED display and a self-developed integrated infotainment system, to the 2021 Cadillac 'Escalade' vehicle.

The 38-inch P-OLED display installed in the new Escalade vehicle integrates three screens into one, including two screens for the instrument cluster and infotainment. It combines the central information display (CID), which shows key vehicle statuses such as driving speed and engine RPM, and the infotainment display for passengers into a single screen.

This display features a resolution exceeding 4K, providing excellent visibility. Since it does not require a backlight, it offers differentiated user experiences with various design forms and wide viewing angles, according to the company.

The integrated infotainment system developed by LG Electronics consists of the instrument cluster, 'AVN (Audio, Video, Navigation)', and the 'Rear Seat Infotainment system (RSI)'. The rear seat infotainment system, composed of two 12.6-inch screens, allows screen sharing between left and right rear seat passengers and easy connection with external devices such as smartphones and laptops. It also supports functions like controlling the vehicle's audio system from the rear seat screens.

LG Electronics also developed the software independently to implement the integrated infotainment system. The software meets the international standard for automotive functional safety (ASIL). The company plans to supply the rear seat infotainment system not only for the Escalade but also for GM's new vehicles in the future.

LG Electronics will receive all P-OLED panels used in the 2021 Cadillac vehicles from LG Display's Gumi E5 line. The company positively anticipates the possibility of P-OLED installation in other major global automakers and automotive parts companies such as Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Toyota, and Honda, as LG Display supplies panels to them besides GM.

LG Electronics forecasts that the demand for P-OLED displays for vehicles will continue to increase in the future. They believe that customer preference for wide display viewing angles and premium interiors is gradually rising. If various spaces inside vehicles are replaced by displays, the vehicle display market could expand rapidly.

According to market research firm IHS Markit, the global vehicle display market is expected to grow from 9.8 trillion KRW last year to 12 trillion KRW in 2023. It is anticipated that the application range of vehicle displays will further expand as the autonomous driving era begins in earnest. LG Electronics plans to continuously introduce innovative products such as rollable and transparent displays for vehicles in response.

Tim Herrick, Vice President of GM Global Product, said, "The industry-first P-OLED digital cockpit has enabled the concept design of vehicles to be realized in mass-produced cars," adding, "It is one of the differentiated core functions of vehicle interiors."

Jinyong Kim, Vice President and Head of LG Electronics' VS Business Division, emphasized, "Based on differentiated technology, we will continue to introduce next-generation products for the future automotive industry that can grow together with customers."

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