2026: The first year of mass production for transparent vehicle displays, and the all-glass interaction solution is officially implemented
Cui Dongshu, the secretary-general of the National Passenger Vehicle Market Information Association, clearly stated in a recent interview with China Electronics News: "The in-car display is evolving towards super-large integrated screens, panoramic sky screens, AR-HUD, and flexible and irregular-shaped screens. It focuses on providing displays with ultra-high resolution, low blue light, and high adaptability to the vehicle environment. At the same time, it is upgrading towards minimalist interaction and vehicle-machine AI linkage." These remarks set the tone for the technical roadmap of the in-car display industry in 2026.
Looking at this year's Beijing Auto Show, the sunroofs, side windows, and rear partition glass of the cars have all transformed into high-definition touch screens; the navigation arrows are stuck onto the actual road surface on the front windshield; and the roof skylight automatically adjusts its brightness based on the intensity of sunlight - this is not the flashy feature of a concept car, but a production-ready solution that has been assigned to multiple OEMs and is about to be delivered in large quantities. We can see that the in-car display is undergoing its third revolution.
Shift in competitive logic: From competing on size to competing on form
Over the past five years, vehicle displays have undergone two rounds of rapid development: from the central control screen to the dual-screen, and then to the integrated three-screen. The size competition once became the core selling point for automakers. However, when 15.6-inch or even 17-inch screens became the standard configuration for 200,000-yuan-class vehicles, the marginal benefits of simply "making it larger" are gradually diminishing.
Cui Dongshu believes that the competitive logic of in-car displays has undergone a fundamental transformation. The four routes of Transparent Display, AR-HUD, flexible sliding, and AI multi-screen interaction are replacing the size competition and becoming the new technological peak. Behind this, the intelligent cockpit is undergoing a deep evolution from an information window to a scene-based interaction hub - display is no longer just display; it is an interactive interface deeply integrated with the vehicle environment and user scenarios.
Three technological routes are launched simultaneously: Transparent interaction approaches the eve of mass production
1Route One: Electrochromic Skylight - From Dimmable Glass to Intelligent Lighting Environment
BOE's breakthrough in the field of electrochromic technology has enabled the skylight to evolve from merely "allowing light to pass through" to "being capable of thinking". Its intelligent dimming skylight curtain adopts PDLC electrochromic technology, enabling a continuous adjustment of light transmittance ranging from 10% to 80%, with a response time of less than 0.5 seconds. It has been equipped on models such as the Ideal L9 and has been mass-produced for vehicle use.
The more crucial aspect is the integration of AI capabilities. This system can automatically adjust the light transmittance based on the external light intensity and the interior scene mode (business, leisure, entertainment, rest), upgrading passive shading to active light environment management. In the hot sun, it automatically vaporizes for heat insulation, and at night, it becomes transparent with the touch of a button for stargazing - the glass is no longer a static physical barrier, but an intelligent interface with perception and decision-making capabilities.
2Route 2: Glass-based Micro LED - The Ultimate Solution for Transparent Displays
If the electrochromic skylight addresses the issue of light, then Micro Led addresses the problem of display.
If the electrochromic skylight addresses the issue of light, then Micro LED addresses the problem of display. The 49.6-inch glass-based Micro LED Tianxuan panoramic integrated screen released by Tianma Microelectronics at the 2026 Beijing Auto Show is undoubtedly the most distinctive display product at this auto show. This C-shaped ultra-wide curved screen, measuring 1.25 meters in length, adopts glass-based Micro LED direct display technology, with a transmittance exceeding 60% and a peak brightness exceeding 5000 nits. It remains clearly visible even in strong light conditions. What's more crucial is that it integrates the functions of the instrument panel, the central control unit, the passenger seat display, and the rearview mirror, achieving a complete integration of the cabin visual and information display.
The reason why Micro LED is regarded as the ultimate solution for transparent displays lies in its three core advantages: high brightness (far exceeding OLED), high transparency (the glass substrate has a transmittance of over 60%, while OLed Transparent displays typically have a transmittance of less than 40%), and high reliability (inorganic material, no burn-in risk, and a lifespan far exceeding organic solutions).
In terms of production line layout, Tianma invested 1.1 billion yuan in 2022 to start the construction of the country's first G3.5 generation fully automated large-scale transfer production line. By the end of 2024, the entire production process was completed, and in 2025, small-batch standard display panels began to be produced. In 2026, Tianma further introduced the 8.6th generation line (TM19) for vehicle-mounted displays and a new display module production line (TM20). The Xiamen Micro LED production line also regards vehicle-mounted displays as an important application direction.
Meanwhile, Zhaochi Semiconductor has achieved the commercial production of automotive Micro LED chips. The second-generation modules of the Sincen® series from Sitan Technology are expected to complete the vehicle-grade certification in 2026-2027. The coordinated advancement of the upstream and downstream of the industry is pushing Micro LED from laboratory samples towards mass production for automotive applications.
3Route 3: Photon Transparent Display - The Entire Vehicle Glass Becomes the Screen
The "Full Vehicle Transparent Interactive Display Solution" that was globally launched by Photon Crystal Technology at the 2026 Beijing Auto Show has taken the application of transparent display from a single point breakthrough to a systematic integration. Based on the independently developed nanoAR™ photon transparent display technology, this solution combines "transparent display screen on the sunroof + transparent touch screen for partitions + transparent touch screen on the side windows" into one, achieving a high transmittance of over 85%, and can clearly display images even in strong light. It has passed the automotive-grade and IATF16949 certifications, and has been awarded定点 contracts by several new energy vehicle manufacturers.
This means that in the future, passengers in the rear seats of high-end vehicles will be able to watch movies through the skylight, browse information on the side window, and conduct touch-based interactions on the partition screen - glass will no longer just be glass; it will become an intelligent interaction interface, a mobile entertainment center and an entrance to future travel. Photon crystal technology has already collaborated with several well-known automakers, and related products will enter the mass production preparation stage immediately after their debut at this auto show.
2026: Why is it the year of mass production?
Industry insiders point out that 2026 can be regarded as the initial year for the practical application of transparent vehicle displays. Currently, the scenarios that have achieved real mass production mainly involve panoramic sunroofs and rear partitions. The transparent displays on side windows and the front windshield are still in the process of development.
Behind this judgment lies a triple resonance of technological maturity, cost curve and market demand:
Technically, the yield rate of large-scale transfer of Micro LED has exceeded 90%, the response speed of electrochromic films has reached the millisecond level, and the transmittance and brightness of photon-transparent displays have reached the commercial threshold.
In terms of cost, the Mini LED backlight solution has been widely adopted in 200,000-level vehicles, providing a reference for the cost reduction path of Micro LED. According to industry predictions, the overall pre-installation adoption rate of automotive Mini LED in China will reach 21%-23% by 2026. After the cost further decreases in 2027, 150,000-level mainstream models will witness the large-scale standardization of this feature.
In terms of demand, the trend towards multi-screen, high-definition and scenario-based design in intelligent cabins is irreversible. According to Omdia's prediction, the global shipment of vehicle display screens will exceed 240 million units in 2026, and the penetration rate of high-end display technologies will increase from 18% in 2023 to over 35%.
The standardization path in 2027
From the perspective of industry rhythm, from the second half of 2026 to 2027, we will witness the following trends:
The electrochromic sunroof will be the first to be widely standardly equipped in mid-to-high-end new energy vehicles priced above 250,000 yuan, and AI light environment management will become a differentiating selling point for the cabin.
Micro LED transparent displays will be implemented in small-scale pre-installed versions for high-end vehicles priced above 300,000 yuan. They will mainly be used for transparent displays in the instrument panel and rear entertainment partitions. After 2028, they are expected to penetrate into a wider price range.
The full vehicle transparent interaction system will start with high-end MPVs and flagship sedans, and gradually expand to SUVs and crossover models. Glass serving as a screen will become the standard design language for the intelligent cabin.
The four technological routes predicted by Cui Dongshu - super-large display screens, panoramic sky screens, AR-HUD, and flexible and irregular-shaped screens - are not evolving independently but are instead integrating into a unified all-encompassing display ecosystem. When AR-HUD projects information onto the front windshield, when transparent gauges replace traditional central control screens, and when side windows become the interaction interface for rear passengers, vehicle displays are moving from local optimization to global reconfiguration.
In 2026, what we will witness is not just the release of a few new products, but the beginning of an era: Automotive glass has finally broken free from its transparent but emotionless physical constraints and has become a living interface with temperature, intelligence and interactivity. From screens inside the vehicle to the glass itself as the screen, the third revolution in vehicle display has already been triggered.
