LG Innotek CEO 称玻璃基板约2028年才量产供货、FC-BGA 2027年改善，均为远期路线图无新增订单

LG Innotek expects to begin supplying glass substrates for advanced semiconductor packaging around 2028 and sees its chip substrate business improving in 2027, as the South Korean components maker seeks to reduce its reliance on smartphone camera modules and expand into automotive technologies.

CEO Hyuk-soo Moon outlined the plans during an interview at the Korea Electronics Show (KES 2026) in Seoul, where LG Innotek returned as an exhibitor after a 12-year absence. The company placed automotive sensing, communications, and lighting technologies at the center of its exhibition while showcasing next-generation semiconductor substrates.
Moon said LG Innotek is operating a glass substrate pilot production line at its Gumi plant in North Gyeongsang Province. The technology remains under development, however, and commercial supply has not begun.
The company is also pursuing long-term supply agreements (LTAs) with major technology companies for its flip-chip ball grid array (FC-BGA) substrates, with Moon expecting business performance to improve beginning in 2027.
Glass substrates and AI packaging drive diversification
LG Innotek formally announced its entry into the glass substrate business in 2024 and has since established a pilot production line and begun evaluating sample reliability.
The company is targeting higher-value semiconductor packaging applications, including servers and AI accelerators. FC-BGA substrates, which typically use Ajinomoto Build-up Film (ABF) as an insulating material, connect high-performance processors to printed circuit boards.
LG Innotek aims to increase annual operating profit from its Package Solution business to KRW1 trillion (approx. US$746 million) by 2031, part of a broader strategy to reduce its dependence on mobile optical components.
Automotive sensing, communications, and lighting take center stage
Automotive technologies dominated LG Innotek's exhibition at KES 2026. An autonomous driving concept vehicle mock-up illustrated the company's sensing applications across both vehicle interiors and exteriors, showcasing cameras, light detection and ranging (LiDAR), radar, and lighting technologies.
Among the products on display was an Active Cleaning Camera Module designed to remove water and foreign particles from camera lenses, helping maintain image recognition performance in challenging road conditions.
LG Innotek also showcased a next-generation under-display camera (UDC) developed in collaboration with LG Display. The technology conceals the camera behind an automotive dashboard display and uses LG Innotek's proprietary AI-based image restoration software to improve image quality.
For longer-range detection, the company displayed a compact, high-performance LiDAR system developed with US-based Aeva. The system can detect objects up to 200 meters away, complementing camera-based sensing capabilities.
Its in-cabin ultra-wideband (UWB) radar supports applications including child presence detection and hands-free trunk opening and closing through foot gestures.
The company's automotive communications portfolio includes 5G non-terrestrial network (NTN) communication modules, automotive application processor (AP) modules, and UWB-based digital keys.
An LG Innotek representative said the company's strength lies in its ability to offer cameras, radar, and LiDAR together, extending optical expertise developed through its smartphone camera module business into automotive applications.
Beyond sensing, the company uses communications modules to support vehicle data transmission while developing automotive lighting applications under its proprietary Nexlide brand.
Automotive expansion offers another path beyond smartphones
Optical solutions continue to account for approximately 80% of LG Innotek's revenue, while automotive-related products and semiconductor substrates each contribute roughly 10%.
Within its automotive business, communications and sensing currently account for the larger portions of sales. Communications modules are used across a broader range of vehicle models, while demand for automotive lighting depends more heavily on vehicle positioning and design choices.
Nevertheless, LG Innotek's efforts to establish Nexlide as a distinct automotive lighting brand are drawing increasing attention to the business.
The company plans to expand its automotive customer base and product portfolio. Moon has previously outlined a target of KRW2 trillion in annual automotive sensing solutions revenue by 2030.
An LG Innotek representative also noted that cameras and sensors used in autonomous vehicles and robots share similar underlying principles and structures. As advanced sensing technologies extend to a wider range of mobility platforms, the company is exploring applications beyond the automotive sector.