Global demand for automotive Center Information Displays (CIDs) and Digital Instrument Clusters (DICs) experienced a 2% year-over-year decline in the first quarter of 2026, according to a recent report by market research firm Counterpoint Research. The dip reflects a broader slowdown in the automotive sector, particularly impacting major Chinese original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) like BYD and Changan groups. While overall volumes adjusted, the quarter also marked an accelerated shift towards Low-Temperature Polysilicon (LTPS) technology.
The sequential decline was more pronounced at 15% quarter-over-quarter, though this was primarily attributed to strong seasonal demand observed in Q4 2025. This downturn signals a near-term adjustment phase for the automotive display market.
Technology Mix Sees Minor Shifts, LTPS Gains Traction
Despite the overall dip in demand, the fundamental technology mix remained largely consistent. Liquid Crystal Displays (LCDs) continued to dominate, accounting for 98.7% of demand in Q1 2026, a marginal decrease from 99.1% in Q1 2024. Premium technologies such as MiniLED LCD and Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED) saw slow but steady gains, rising from 0.5% to 0.6% and 0.4% to 0.7% respectively over the same period. These increases are driven by new interior designs that increasingly emphasize advanced display technologies.
A more significant technological evolution was observed in the backplane segment, with LTPS panels expanding their market share. LTPS accounted for 18.8% of demand in Q1 2026, a notable increase from 11% in Q1 2024. This growth is directly linked to the increasing size of automotive displays. The share of sub-10-inch displays contracted from 46% to 35%, while the 10-20-inch segment expanded from 54% to 65% during the period. Larger displays necessitate higher resolutions and improved image quality, areas where LTPS technology excels. Within the 10-20-inch category itself, LTPS share climbed from 20% to 28%. For further insights into industry developments and automotive technology, readers can explore the latest reports on TechnoSports (https://technosports.co.in/).
Guillaume Chansin, Associate Director at Counterpoint Research (http://www.counterpointresearch.com/), commented on the trend, stating, “Carmakers want LCD panels with LTPS because it enables higher resolutions, slim bezels, and lower power consumption—the same characteristics widely found in consumer electronics. With OLED technology now dominating in smartphones and gaining market share in IT, spare capacity in LTPS LCD has been redirected towards automotive.”
While the automotive display market navigates a period of volume adjustments, the underlying trend of mix upgrades, characterized by larger displays and the increasing adoption of LTPS technology, remains firmly in progress.
