July 29, 2025 Yuichi Motohashi. Dep. Director / Global Segment Lead, Automotive Display, Camera, LiDAR & SerDes, GlobalFoundries As the automotive industry accelerates toward a future defined by digital experiences and intelligent mobility, the role of semiconductor innovation has never been more critical. At the recent SID Business Conference, Yuichi Motohashi, Global Segment Lead for Automotive Display, Camera, LiDAR & SerDes at GlobalFoundries (GF), shared a compelling vision for how purpose-built semiconductor technologies are enabling the evolution of in-vehicle displays. The display-driven transformation of the cabin Modern vehicles are rapidly transforming into digital cockpits. From driver instrument clusters and center information displays (CID) to co-driver screens, e-mirrors and rear-seat entertainment systems, the number and area of automotive displays is growing exponentially. This shift is not just about aesthetics—it’s about delivering immersive, intuitive and safe user experiences. But automotive displays aren’t like any other consumer displays. They demand: High brightness (800–1000 nits) for visibility in sunlight Extended reliability under extreme conditions (up to 105°C) Longer lifespans (5–10 years) Automotive specific quality requirements such as IATF 16949 and ISO 26262 (functional safety) Custom form factors tailored to OEM needs From fragmented screens to seamless experiences Featured below, the evolution of display architecture in vehicles reflects a broader trend toward integration and immersion: Traditional architecture: Vehicles have historically used multiple small displays, each powered by its own electronic control unit (ECU). This setup offers flexibility but lacks cohesion. Integrated displays under one large lens: Today’s mainstream design integrates multiple displays under a single lens, offering a more immersive experience while allowing OEMs to mix and match panel specifications like resolution and contrast. Single large panels: Luxury vehicles are beginning to adopt large, curved single-panel displays. These offer a seamless, futuristic look and simplify the supply chain, but they also introduce challenges like higher costs, lower panel yields and potential single points of failure. Future vision – free-form panels: The next frontier is free-form, ultra-wide panels that span the entire dashboard. While not yet widely available, these displays promise unmatched design freedom and user experience—requiring deep collaboration between OEMs, Tier-1 suppliers and panel manufacturers. These architectural shifts are driving a parallel transformation in electronics from distributed ECUs to centralized infotainment domain controllers, demanding higher bandwidth, lower latency and more efficient power management to handle multiple applications — such as the instrument cluster, climate control and audio control — onto one centralized ECU. GF’s semiconductor solutions: purpose-built for automotive GlobalFoundries is uniquely positioned to meet these demands with its market-driven, application-specific platforms that deliver value in four key areas: High-voltage and low-power platforms (e.g., 55HV, 40HV, 28HV, 22FDX+HV) Advanced memory integration for local dimming and non-uniformity compensation (De-mura) Superior transistor matching for precision analog performance Automotive-qualified nodes from 180nm to 12nm As the automotive industry accelerates toward immersive, integrated in-cabin experiences, display technologies like TDDI (Touch and Display Driver Integration) and LTDI (Large Touch Driver Integration) are becoming pivotal. GlobalFoundries is at the forefront of this transformation, offering purpose-built semiconductor solutions that address the unique challenges of these advanced display systems. TDDI, often used in small to medium displays, integrates the timing controller (TCON) and touch interface, enabling full array local dimming (FALD) architecture and streamlined signal processing. High-speed interfaces like eDP are now built into TDDI, requiring efficient transistors that offer both speed and low power consumption. For ultra-wide, high-resolution displays—such as those exceeding 15 inches—LTDI steps in, requiring multiple cascaded drivers and separate timing controllers. GF’s differentiated process technologies, including 40HV and 28HV platforms, deliver the high-density logic, low-leakage SRAM and precise analog performance needed to support these complex architectures. With innovations like 34V high-voltage support in 40HV generation 2 and superior transistor matching in 28HV, GF ensures that its TDDI and LTDI solutions meet the stringent demands of automotive environments—ranging from extreme temperatures to long product lifecycles—while enabling sleek, seamless and safe user experiences. With that, GF’s AutoPro™ platform ensures quality and reliability across the entire lifecycle—from design enablement and IP to manufacturing control and certification (IATF 16949, ISO 26262, AEC-Q100). Looking ahead As display technologies continue to evolve, the semiconductor industry must keep pace. GlobalFoundries is not just keeping up—it’s leading the charge through it’s commitment to innovation, reliability and customer collaboration., With a global manufacturing footprint spanning the U.S., Europe and Asia, GF is a trusted and reliable source for customers around the world. Partnering with GF means more than access to cutting-edge technology—it means a shared vision for the future of mobility. For more information on how GF can help build advanced display devices, you can contact us anytime through gf.com or reach Yuichi Motohashi at [email protected]. Yuichi Motohashi is the Deputy Director of End Markets at GlobalFoundries, responsible for leading the global segment in automotive cameras, LiDAR, SerDes and displays, which facilitate next-generation ADAS, autonomous driving and enhanced in-cabin experiences.
