The Futrue of Automotive Displays : Experience First or Safety First?

KEY TAKEAWAY: Automotive display design is no longer about adding more screens. It is about delivering the right information through experiences optimized for each driving context.

Hyun Min Bang | Senior Professional, Product Planning, LG Vehicle Solution

When I look at today's OEM landscape, I don't think the conversation is about adding more displays anymore. Instead, it's about expanding the role displays play inside the vehicle. The amount of information vehicles need to deliver continues to grow, and display form factors are evolving accordingly. The way that information is organized has become just as important as the displays themselves because it directly shapes the customer experience.

There is still no universal answer to information architecture, display priorities, or the role each display should play in different situations. Every OEM is taking a different approach, which is why display form factors continue to evolve in many different directions.

We've already seen the industry move from the traditional Cluster and CID layout to pillar-to-pillar displays. Now we're seeing growing interest in panoramic HUDs, slidable displays, and flexible CIDs. To me, the industry is moving beyond the idea of simply making screens bigger or adding more of them. The real challenge is designing the right display experience for the right context.

KEY TAKEAWAY: Optical displays improve driving safety by minimizing eye movement and presenting critical information where it can be perceived most naturally.

Dong Wook Kim | Research Fellow, Optical Display, LG Vehicle Solution

From a safety perspective, I think one point is especially important: drivers only have one line of sight. The question isn't simply how much information we provide. It's how often, and how far, drivers need to move their eyes to access that information.

As displays become larger and more numerous, looking away from the road can begin to interrupt the natural driving flow. That's where display design becomes a safety issue. AR-HUDs and windshield displays can certainly create new experiences. But to me, their greatest value lies in helping drivers keep their eyes where they belong.

Rather than asking drivers to look down at another screen, these technologies place information closer to their natural field of view, reducing unnecessary eye movement while driving. Ultimately, optical displays aren't about showing more information. They're about delivering the right information, in the right place, at the right moment.

KEY TAKEAWAY: Future panel displays will reduce distraction through Shy Tech, revealing only what is needed while seamlessly integrating safety functions.

Do Young Kim | Leader, Advanced Display Development, LG Vehicle Solution

From my perspective, the next generation of in-vehicle displays needs to move beyond simply presenting more information. Instead, I believe we'll see a greater emphasis on Shy Tech - technologies that reduce unnecessary visual stimulation while supporting a safer driving experience.

I see that happening in two ways. The first is through variable display form factors that physically hide screens when they aren't needed. During driving, only essential information should remain visible, while technologies such as rollable and slidable displays can stay out of sight until they're needed. That alone can help reduce driver distraction.

The second is integrating safety technologies behind the display itself. Solutions such as the Under Display Camera (UDC) allow essential systems, including the Driver Monitoring System (DMS), to operate without interrupting the driver's field of view. Safety functions remain active, but they do so almost invisibly.

To me, this isn't about choosing between panel and optical technologies. They're complementary. Both are moving toward the same goal - creating a safer driving experience while allowing richer user experiences whenever the situation calls for them.

KEY TAKEAWAY: Optical displays expand in-vehicle content experiences, delivering information and entertainment more naturally within occupants' field of view.

Dong Wook Kim | Research Fellow, Optical Display, LG Vehicle Solution

When people think about immersive experiences such as video or gaming, optical displays probably aren't the first technology that comes to mind. That said, I don't think immersive experiences are completely out of the question. When the vehicle is stationary - or from the perspective of front-seat passengers and other occupants - optical displays can certainly support video viewing and information consumption.

Compared with conventional panel displays, they offer a viewing angle that's closer to the driver's natural eye level, along with a longer viewing distance. Depending on the situation, that can make visual content more comfortable to view.

Even so, I believe the real strength of optical displays lies in the driving experience. Navigation guidance, driving assistance, hazard alerts, and situational information can all be presented within the driver's forward field of view. Instead of asking drivers to repeatedly look down at a display panel, the information stays where it's most useful.

To me, that's what makes optical displays different. They're not designed to replace panel-based content experiences. They're designed to make driving itself safer, more intuitive, and ultimately more comfortable.

KEY TAKEAWAY: AI-powered panel displays will adapt to user context, expanding only when immersive experiences are needed.

Do Young Kim | Leader, Advanced Display Development, LG Vehicle Solution

As the industry moves beyond the Software-Defined Vehicle (SDV) and toward the AI-Defined Vehicle (AIDV) era, I think expectations for in-vehicle displays will change significantly. The real question isn't whether displays should become larger. It's whether passengers actually need larger displays in the first place.

When AI can understand passenger context in real time, adaptability becomes far more valuable than physical screen size. In everyday situations, displays can remain minimized in line with Shy Tech principles. They can serve as lightweight interfaces for interacting with AI while reducing visual fatigue. Then, when a richer entertainment experience is needed, AI can activate variable displays - such as bendable panels - to create a more immersive environment.

To me, the future of displays won't be defined by screen size. It will be defined by displays that appear only when they're needed and adapt naturally to each situation.

KEY TAKEAWAY: Rather than relying on a single display, future vehicles will combine multiple display technologies to deliver the right experience at the right time.

Hyun Min Bang | Senior Professional, Product Planning, LG Vehicle Solution

From an OEM perspective, I think the biggest challenge is balancing two very different expectations. On one hand, demand for video, streaming, and other content experiences continues to grow. On the other, concerns around driver distraction, safety, and cognitive load remain just as important.

Trying to satisfy both through a single display inevitably creates trade-offs. The more emphasis we place on content, the greater the cognitive burden during driving. But if we focus only on safety information, the immersive experience becomes limited. That's why I don't think the future lies in putting every experience onto one display.

Instead, displays should respond to the user's state - whether they're driving, parked, charging, or simply taking a break. The role of the display and the information it presents should change accordingly.

While driving, the priority should be clear information that supports quick recognition and decision-making. When the vehicle is parked or charging, displays can shift toward richer and more immersive content experiences. Those situations require completely different approaches, and I believe that's how displays should evolve.

That's also the direction we're exploring. Rather than trying to solve every use case with a single display, we're looking at how different technologies can work together to deliver the right experience in the right context.

Listening to these different perspectives, one thing becomes clear. The future of in-vehicle displays isn't simply about making screens bigger or adding more of them. It's about designing the right experience for the right moment.

As AI becomes better at understanding passenger context, displays will become more adaptive. While driving, they'll prioritize safety and intuitive access to information. When circumstances change, they'll seamlessly expand into richer and more immersive experiences.

That also means panel and optical display technologies don't compete with one another. Instead, they'll continue to evolve as complementary technologies, each supporting a different part of the in-vehicle experience. Together, they'll help shape vehicles that are not only more intelligent, but also safer, more intuitive, and more human-centered.

Yoo Joon Kim | Moderator, Product Planning, LG Vehicle Solution