AU Optronics (AUO), the Taiwan-based panel manufacturer, held an annual press event displaying its new products and applications in 2020 including 8K TVs, Micro LED automotive displays, Mini LED backlit displays.

(Image: LEDinside)

The wide range of displays target diverse fields covering medical applications, gaming displays, public information displays, automotive displays and more. AUO noted that orders for medical and educational applications such as electronic whiteboards and digital X-ray panels have increased with rising needs in home education and medical treatment due to coronavirus outbreak.

The company said its production operation was not affected by the epidemic, 95% of its production capacity in China has resumed. Thus, it will not change its outlook for 1Q20. However, if the coronavirus continue spreading across the world, the impacts on the consumer market might expand starting 2Q20.

AUO considered the escalating epidemic a turning point for the panel industry as the severe price competition might slow down, since the Chinese government might stop pouring great amount of subsidies to China’s panel makers.

The coronavirus may also bring up new demands in TVs and entertaining products as people are spending more time at home to avoid infection.

The panel maker is also pushing its development in Micro LED automotive displays and has been in talk with automobile manufacturers. The Micro LED display might enter validation process this year and be adopted in 2022.