Dowoo Insys Develops UTG for Automotive Rollable OLED Displays

What happened

According to industry sources on Oct. 23, Dowoo Insys is developing ultra-thin glass (UTG) protective cover windows for rollable OLED displays used in automotive center information displays (CIDs) and entertainment screens, in cooperation with a major South Korean automotive electronics company. The product protects the OLED panel surface; rollable displays that extend and retract require flexible protective glass, for which plastic films have been used. Development is understood to be at an intermediate stage, with an industry source saying it is about halfway complete; in addition to the protective glass, the OLED panel and the extend-retract mechanism must also be developed, and the components must be integrated into a finished product after performance verification. If development proceeds as planned, commercialization could take place between the second half of 2027 and 2028; actual adoption in vehicles will depend on automakers' decisions. The company is also considering a separate equipment investment, since automotive rollable glass differs from smartphone UTG in size and processing requirements and requires dedicated equipment; Vietnam is among the potential production locations, while its second factory under construction in Vietnam is intended for smartphone UTG production and is separate from the proposed automotive investment. Background: Dowoo Insys began mass production of UTG for foldable smartphones in 2019, adopted in Samsung Electronics' Galaxy Z Fold series through Samsung Display, and in 2021 developed 14-inch S-shaped curved glass for automotive CIDs. Of the company's 85.7 billion won in revenue in the first half of 2026, UTG accounted for 82.6 billion won, or approximately 96%, with production and deliveries concentrated around new smartphone launches causing significant seasonal fluctuations. The company recently converted its exclusive supply agreement with Samsung Display into a three-year long-term agreement (LTA), and the automotive glass project is its first collaboration with another customer since the contract change. Automotive products are made in smaller volumes but can command relatively higher supply prices, particularly for premium vehicles, though development is technically demanding and adoption in production vehicles can take considerable time. The source does not state the cause.

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Source and time

Source: The Elec · 10/25/2026 · View original source