There has been further speculation about Sharp’s plans for restoring its LCD business, following the company’s announcement last month of its mid-term management plan (Sharp Secures Second Bank Bail-Out). Latest reports suggest that Sharp will target LCDs for use in automobiles to help return its LCD unit to profitability.
Sharp is reportedly looking at producing LCD speedometers and plans to jointly develop LCD technology with Toyota and other car manufacturers. According to IHS DisplaySearch, the market for in-vehicle LCDs totaled around $4.4 billion last year and is expected to increase to around $6.4 billion by 2020.
Sharp is also reported to have submitted documents to financial institutions indicating that it will consider splitting off its LCD business, though the company denied this was an option in May. The company is expected to post a net loss of $137 million in the year ending in March 2016.
