INTERVIEW: Japan Display to Cut Dependence on Smartphones

July 11, 2018

Tokyo- Japan Display Inc. aims to boost sales of liquid crystal display panels for use in products other than smartphones, its president and chief operating officer said in a recent interview.

The comments by Yoshiyuki Tsukizaki indicate that the company is hoping to break away from its dependence on the volatile smartphone market.

The company aims to increase sales of LCDs for non-smartphone use to some 50 pct of the total by 2022 from about 20 pct at present, Tsukizaki said.

The goal comes after Japan Display posted the fourth straight year of net loss for the year ended last March.

Japan Display will aim for annual sales growth of 10 pct or over in in-vehicle LCD business, including for speedometers, Tsukizaki said. It is considering reinforcing production in China and Taiwan.

Tsukizaki indicated that Japan Display is considering scaling down the size of investment designed to start mass production of organic electroluminescent display panels as it is struggling to procure funds.

"Mass production is necessary, but the environment is changing. Big investments won't be necessary," he said. The company had planned to spend hundreds of billion yen.

Tsukizaki said the company has made some progress in its structural reform, including job cuts mainly in overseas operations. Jiji Press