Apple’s iPhone struggles unravel ambitions of Japan Display

Japan Display Inc's high resolution panel for mobile is displayed at its headquarters in Tokyo, Japan, August 9, 2016. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon/Files

TOKYO: When Japan Display Inc broke ground on a new factory in central Japan in 2015, the future looked bright for one of the world's top vendors of liquid crystal display (LCD) panels.

The plant would strengthen the company's position as the primary screen supplier for Apple Inc as sales of the iPhone 6 soared. And the US smartphone juggernaut said it would front most of the US$1.5bil (RM6.08bil) in costs, with Japan Display paying it back with a percentage of screen sales, according to two company sources.