LCD TV competition will be heating up this summer as China-based panel manufacturers such as China Star Optoelectronics Technology (CSOT) will be producing new TV panel sizes in order to compete more with Taiwan-based manufacturers such as AU Optronics (AUO) and Chimei Innolux (CMI).
Both AUO and CMI have produced 39-inch panels in order to increase TV brands' competitiveness in the market and are reportedly posing challenges for 37-inch panels whose prices are similar to 39-inch ones. AUO's and CMI's 50-inch panels are also challenging 47-inch ones due to a less than 10% price difference TV brands are setting for their models of the two size segments.
CSOT has decided that it will mass produce 28-inch panels at its 8.5G plant as of August amongst AUO producing 29-inch ones that will be used by China-based TV makers such as TCL and TPV. CSOT's 28-inch applications are meant to supplant 23.6- and 26-inch ones, said sources.
More than 90% of CSOT's panel production is for 32-inch models, 70% of which is for TCL. However, sources predict that the manufacturer may be providing shipments for Samsung Electronics by the end of the year.
Article translated by Alex Wolfgram
