Taiwan-based auto lamp modules and components manufacturer Excellence Optoelectronics (EOI) on April 10 announced to go public on the Taiwan Stock Exchange on May 9.

As a Taiwan enterprise integrating LED R&D, production and sales as one, BRIGHTEK has focused on automotive LED market for many years. It exhibited a full series of automotive LED products and solutions at Shanghai ALE 2018 during March 28 to March 29. In the meantime, LEDinside had the opportunity to interview Zhong Xunhui, the special assistant of general manager in BRIGHTEK, who kindly shared BRIGHTEK’s development trend and plan in automotive LED market.

EVERLIGHT demonstrated monochromatic light LEDs that are widely applied for horticulture lighting. It developed a special series of products based on monochromatic light wavelength to cover PAR 450-745 nm from high to low power with SHWO 3535-ELB, 3030-ELB and 2835-ELB.

Highlights of Lextar for this year are high-power LED modules, LEDs for slim luminaire, and IR sensor modules. In particular, the new IR sensor modules were showcased for the first time. They feature 3D image recognition and can be used in 3D cameras. In addition to that, the company also showcased its automotive LEDs.

The technology companies Osram and Continental have successfully concluded their negotiations on the Osram Continental GmbH joint venture.

Ingolstadt car manufacturer Audi uses the expertise of Osram Opto Semiconductors in the front lighting of its new flagship. The Oslon Compact PL for adaptive front lighting has been installed in the Audi A8 for the first time. The Oslon Black Flat S in its 3-chip version provides an extended beam range. In addition, the tried and tested Topled is used in the sedan’s daytime running lights.

LITE-ON Technology today reported February consolidated revenue of NT$13.04 billion, decreased 21% M-o-M and 19% Y/Y, mainly impacted by the Chinese Lunar New Year holiday shutdown. Cumulative sales for January and February totaled NT$29.54 billion.

Brightek will exhibit on Shanghai Auto Lamp Exhibition at Booth T231 from March 28th to March 29th, displaying a variety of automotive LEDs with newly-launched products on site. 

In the first quarter of fiscal year 2018, Osram continued to grow while increasing capital expenditure. "We had a solid first quarter. Despite the significant headwind from currency effects, we managed to generate further growth while maintaining high margins. From the current perspective, we expect to gain momentum in the second half of the fiscal year," said Olaf Berlien, CEO of OSRAM Licht AG.

Last year, Taiwanese LED packaging company EVERLIGHT registered a lukewarm annual earnings with a YoY decline of 6.6%. In face of looming threats from Chinese competitors, EVERLIGHT adjusts its product mix in hope to push up its revenue in 2018.

LITE-ON Technology reported December consolidated revenue of NT$18.02 billion, decreased 3% M-o-M and 16% Y-o-Y. Cumulative sales for the entire year of 2017 reached NT$ 214.57 billion supported by stable end-demand from core businesses.

LITE-ON Technology reported November consolidated revenue of NT$18.53 billion, up 5% M-o-M and decreased 13% Y-o-Y. Cumulative sales for January and November totaled NT$ 196.55 billion supported by stable end-demand from core businesses.

Osram Opto Semiconductors has added the new Oslon Compact PL to its portfolio of products for the automotive sector. The LED is particularly suitable for use in vehicle headlights.

“At Osram, we recognize the impact that light, in both visible and invisible forms, can have on quality of life, and we strive to incorporate the benefits of light into a wide variety of technologies and applications to make everyday life safer, smarter and more enjoyable,” said Olaf Berlien, CEO of OSRAM Licht AG.

Osram Opto Semiconductors is the exclusive lighting partner for automobile manufacturer Rinspeed’s Snap concept car. The Swiss-based think tank created Snap for a future defined by autonomous driving and urbanization. The autonomous concept vehicle, which features many of Osram’s LED, laser and optoelectronic sensing solutions from the ultraviolet (UV) and visible to infrared spectrum, will be launched at the 2018 CES Show in Las Vegas.

Among lots of companies developing Micro/ Mini LED, an Idaho-based startup is looking to use its products in a totally different segment. Rohinni, first exposed in 2014, has been developing Micro LED for keyboard backlighting and automotive lighting.

Taiwan-based LED chip manufacturer Epistar announced its business plan for 2018 will be around five cores—backlighting, high-end LED lighting, infrared application, automotive lighting, and innovative digital display. Ming-Chun Chou, General Manager of Epistar, stated the company will officially produce Mini LED in 2Q18 at the earliest.

Technology companies Continental and Osram announced their intention to establish a joint venture. The idea is to combine innovative lighting technology with electronics and software to develop, manufacture and market intelligent lighting solutions for the automotive industry. 

In the last fiscal year, Osram benefited from persistently strong demand for its high-tech products, and particularly its opto-semiconductors. On a comparable basis, revenue rose by just over 8 percent year on year to reach more than four billion Euro.

Chinese LED packager Honglitronic has been devoted to the development of products for automotive lighting. It lately collaborated with Taiwan-based LED chip giant Epistar to form a strategic alliance, aiming to harness resources from both sides to develop automotive lighting products. 

SYLVANIA Automotive will debut its new LED low-beam line at the Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo (AAPEX), Oct. 31 – Nov. 2, in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Varroc Lighting Systems has introduced Surface-LED, its latest innovation in exterior vehicle lighting systems, which brings together the appearance of OLEDs with the proven benefits of LED light sources. This cost-effective and reliable product will give OEMs more freedom to innovate in the design and functionality of exterior lighting than ever before.

Taiwan-based LED epi-wafer and chip manufacturer Epileds registered a lower revenue in 3Q17 than that in 2Q17 and the revenue fell from a year ago because of seasonality and factory relocation. Epileds is predicted to continue moving factories and purchase infrared (IR) and ultraviolet (UV) LED machines in 4Q17. Epileds will mainly buy used machines and modify them by itself. The revenue in 4Q17 is estimated to be similar to that in 3Q17. Epileds' annual revenue is projected to stay flat, but gross margin will improve, and profit will possibly bounce back. 

Samsung Electronics, a Korean company specializing in advanced digital component solutions, and TÜV SÜD, a global technical services provider of quality, safety and sustainability solutions, today announced that the companies have developed a new testing program for Samsung’s automotive LED components. A ceremony was held earlier today at the headquarters of TÜV SÜD Korea Ltd. in Seoul, Korea, to unveil the new testing program.

Toshiba America Electronic Components, Inc. (TAEC) announced the expansion of its lineup of automotive N-channel power MOSFETs with the addition of the 60V SSM3K341R and the 100V SSM3K361R. 

Osram Licht AG announced to start the operation of its new LED chip factory in the Kulim Hi-Tech Park, Malaysia on October 23. The company claimed the new plant will be the world’s largest and most advanced 6-inch LED chip plant after the final stage of the construction scheduled to be finished in 2020.

An affiliate of New Water Capital L.P., a Boca Raton-based private equity firm focused on lower-middle market companies, announced it has made an investment in leading Tier 1 OEM transportation LED lighting designer, manufacturer and supplier Myotek. Specializing in automotive forward lighting, Myotek is a supplier of fog lamps for several OEM automakers and other vehicle manufacturers. Based in Irvine, California, the company has sales and service locations in Detroit, Michigan; Stateline, Nevada; Dallas, Texas; Houston, Texas; Lockport, Illinois; and Fishers, Indiana, and manufacturing facilities located in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Guangdong, China.

Automotive CoB LED is a segment that the LED industry pays less attention to for two reasons. First, CoB has been a niche market with a market scale far less than SMD's. Second, this segment is only one of the applications that adopt CoB LEDs. It’s quite a small market, so why discussing it now?

The Eviyos prototype developed by Osram Opto Semiconductors is the world’s first hybrid LED and represents major progress toward the first market-ready smart controllable high-resolution LED. As soon as oncoming traffic is detected the appropriate pixels are automatically switched off so drivers of oncoming vehicles are not dazzled. The prototype, integrated in a demonstrator from Osram Specialty Lighting, will be on show for the first time at ISAL from September 25 through 27, 2017 in Darmstadt.   

Global consolidated revenue of LiteOn and its subsidiary in August 2017 was NTD 18.62 billion, up 6% MoM and down 12% YoY. Because of the stable demand in the end market benefiting LiteOn’s core business, its consolidated revenue from January 2017 to August 2017 hit NTD 140.54 billion, down 2.4% YoY.