At CES 2025, AUO and its subsidiary BHTC presented the Smart Cockpit 2025, a display-focused concept featruing practical applications of MicroLED Display HMI solutions, emphasizing functionality, adaptability, and sustainability over flashiness, in the company’s view.
The Virtual Sky Canopy demonstrated how large-scale, transparent MicroLED displays could integrate into a vehicle’s skylight, offering passengers an extended interface for enhanced interaction. It is an attempt at making previously unused spaces in the cabin an active part of the vehicle’s design. Another key feature, the Morphing Center Control, provided a tactile user interface with dynamic surfaces that transformed into 3D buttons during operation. These buttons deliver haptic feedback for more precise and controlled interaction, which could improve driver safety and usability.
AUO also showcased its Foldable Cruise Pilot, a hidden interface designed for manual and autonomous driving modes. In manual mode, the display provides essential information in a semi-folded position, while in autonomous mode, it fully unfolds to allow for a broader range of multimedia or navigation options.
Working with Ennostar, AUO introduced the Interactive Matrix Display, a technology designed to enhance clarity and brightness for automotive applications. The system supports practical uses such as displaying vehicle logos and directional indicators, which can improve communication between the car, the driver, and external observers.
Sustainability remained a major theme for AUO. The HiRaso cholesteric LCD stood out for its zero-energy consumption when displaying static images, a feature that could significantly reduce power usage in vehicles. This display technology also excels in bright environments by utilizing ambient light to enhance visibility, making it particularly suitable for automotive use. Meanwhile, AUO’s latest iteration of AmLED technology reduces energy consumption by 25% compared to previous models while also being thinner and lighter—features particularly beneficial for electric vehicles.
AUO’s commitment to sustainability extended to materials, with displays utilizing over 85% post-consumer recycled plastics and panels produced entirely with green electricity. These advancements underline the company’s efforts to align its innovations with broader environmental goals.
Collaborating with BHTC allowed AUO to merge display technology with design-focused human-machine interfaces. For example, the Haptifold Display combines a foldable, touch-sensitive screen with interior temperature controls, offering a seamless design that balances aesthetics and usability. Additionally, the Wood Grain Automotive Display integrates hidden screens into natural wood surfaces, blending traditional materials with modern technology.
Beyond personal vehicles, AUO extended its focus to commercial applications. Their automotive computing solutions link dashboards, center consoles, and smart side mirrors to support fleet management systems, navigation, and advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). These tools are targeted at commercial vehicles and fleet management.
