LG Display introduces 40-inch Pillar-to-Pillar automotive display

SEOUL: LG Display has started mass production of its groundbreaking 40-inch Pillar-to-Pillar (P2P) automotive display, the first of its kind in the industry.

The new display covers the full area in front of both the driver and front passenger seats, delivering an expansive, uninterrupted visual interface.

Many would start comparing LG's display to the Mercedes MBUX Hyperscreen first seen in the 2022 EQS.

While both displays enhance in-vehicle infotainment through expansive screens, the 56-inch MBUX Hyperscreen is a Mercedes-specific system integrating multiple displays under one glass panel, whereas LG's 40-inch P2P display offers a continuous, customisable screen solution suitable for various automotive manufacturers.

The new LG display is part of the company's broader strategy to drive the Software-Defined Vehicle (SDV) revolution, in which vehicle systems are increasingly managed by software for enhanced functionality and user experience.

The 40-inch P2P panel allows for the simultaneous presentation of diverse information, including digital dashboards, navigation, climate control, multimedia content and gaming features, without the disruptions caused by screen transitions.

In doing so, it ensures that vital driving data remains accessible at all times, addressing previous limitations where certain functions would obscure navigation details. The display’s design offers a personalised infotainment experience that enhances both convenience and safety.

In a bid to further improve user experience, LG Display has incorporated Switchable Privacy Mode (SPM) technology into the panel. This viewing angle control feature permits the driver to focus solely on essential driving tasks, while the front passenger can enjoy entertainment options, as the content remains hidden from the driver’s view.

Additionally, the panel uses local dimming technology for the first time in such applications, reducing both heat generation and power consumption, which is particularly beneficial for electric vehicles.

The move to minimise physical buttons in favour of a touch interface maximises the display’s potential for future mobility designs.

The 40-inch P2P display is slated for installation in the Afeela, the first sedan from the Sony Honda Mobility joint venture.

This collaboration aims to integrate Sony’s IT and entertainment expertise with Honda’s automotive experience, enhancing AI-driven driver assistance systems and a variety of in-car entertainment functions.

With many manufacturers putting large displays into their cars in recent years, it has become all too common to the point Mercedes-Benz chief design officer Gorden Wagener said big screens are no longer a mark of luxury.

Despite previously championing the Hyperscreen, Wagener now emphasises craftsmanship and sophistication as the future of luxury.

In an interview with ABC News, he admitted that Mercedes’ infotainment software has been lacking and needs improvement, particularly in offering engaging content.

The S-Class facelift in 2026 will adopt the EQS’s screen layout. Wagener also foresees AI taking over car design within a decade, predicting that future designers may be replaced by machines.