Eastman, Ceres Holographics, and Covestro have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to streamline commercial production of an innovative holographic transparent display solution for vehicle windshields and sidelites. The jointly developed holographic in-plane transparent display (HIPTD) aims to meet OEM demand for safer, more intuitive human-machine interfaces.
The collaboration capitalizes on each partner’s core expertise. Covestro’s Bayfol HX photopolymer film, Ceres’ digital mastering and roll-to-roll hologram replication technology, and Eastman’s advanced interlayer laminates come together to produce a single, scalable holographic stack. This stack can support multiple high-performance head-up displays (HUDs) within a single windshield or side window pane—significantly extending design freedom and display area beyond the limitations of conventional HUD systems.
Over the past year, these companies have demonstrated proof-of-concept (PoC) units to leading automakers in Europe, North America, and China. The prototypes featured multiple transparent displays—each up to 400mm by 300mm—in a single, fully laminated windshield. According to the partners, these HUDs exhibited unprecedented clarity, field of view, and geometric flexibility, enabling novel user experiences while maintaining automotive safety requirements.
The sophistication of the solution was highlighted at SID2024, where Ford Motor Co. shared insights from its two-year validation program conducted with the partners and a third-party glass laminator. The results confirmed the scalability and reliability of the triple-screen holographic HUD production process.
This MOU marks a crucial step toward full-scale commercialization. Eastman, already a key supplier of materials to automotive OEMs, will leverage its supply chain relationships and lamination expertise to accelerate the new solution’s market entry. Meanwhile, Ceres Holographics and Covestro will ramp up replication and film production capabilities to meet anticipated OEM timelines.
