Akihabara News (Tokyo) — The brisk sales of the base model iPhone 11 is putting much-needed wind in the sales of Japan Display Inc. at a crucial point in its bailout process.
Japan Display produces the liquid crystal display (LCD) screens used in the base model iPhone 11, which is finding favor with consumers, significantly exceeding expectations in terms of the number of orders. Apple’s supply chain partners, including Japan Display, are increasing their production schedules and forecasts.
This boost in LCD demand couldn’t have come at a better time for Japan Display, which has fallen into financial crisis for several years and has been struggling to find investors to keep it afloat.
The latest reports suggest that it may be Apple itself which is doing the most to rescue its troubled supplier, intending to inject US$200 million in funds in Japan Display.
A more fundamental challenge for Japan Display is that the smartphone market is largely shifting away from the LCD screens that it produces toward next-generation organic light-emitting diode (OLED) panels. The iPhone 11 Pro, for example, uses the OLED technology.
Japan Display would, of course, like to enter the OLED business as well, but has so far been far short of the investment funds it would need for that purpose.