AUO to Showcase Its Competitive Edge in the Solar Industry Value Chain at Japan's PV EXPO

USA - English

• USA - English
• USA - English
• USA - English

HSINCHU, Taiwan, March 1 /PRNewswire-Asia-FirstCall/ -- AU Optronics Corp. ("AUO" or the "Company") (TAIEX: 2409; NYSE: AUO) will exhibit at PV EXPO 2010 in Tokyo Big Sight, Japan from March 3-5 to showcase its competitive edge in the solar industry value chain. High quality polysilicon, ingots and wafers produced by M.Setek and high-efficiency mono-crystalline and multi-crystalline PV modules from AUO will be on display.

The PV EXPO in Japan is one of the most noted professional PV trade shows in the world, as well as the most important business platform of the Asian PV industry. There are 570 exhibitors worldwide participating this year, displaying a full range of technologies for materials, equipment, solar cells and modules, photovoltaic systems and integration schemes. It is a must-attend event for vendors who wish to break into the Japanese and Asian PV markets.

AUO will be exhibiting the high-efficient module Mono 245W, which is capable of generating more power on space-limited rooftops with an impressive conversion rate of 14.7%. It weighs merely 20kg, around 15% lighter than modules of the same size in the market, and is also easy to install. Customers have their options of choosing black or white colored modules to match the designs of their buildings.

In its energy business, AUO has both the quality key materials from M.Setek in the upstream and photovoltaic system projects in the downstream to provide the most competitive total solution. Therefore, the company will exhibit quality material with high conversion rates at the PV EXPO to demonstrate its strategic position in the integration of the solar industry supply chain.

Being a major supplier to renowned solar cell companies around the world, M.Setek boasts leading technologies in Japan for upstream polysilicon and wafers with high conversion rates. It is one of the few global suppliers that can provide high quality and high-efficiency solar wafers. The Company is also among the first to employ diamond wire sawing and is capable of mass production. The technology helps increase conversion rates, eliminate the use of organic solvents to ensure eco-friendly production, and maintain cost competitiveness. M.Setek is also equipped with the technologies to fully recycle its materials, to take their share of responsibility in carbon balance in the green energy industry. At the PV EXPO, M.Setek will display several wafers, among which the N-Type mono-crystalline wafer can be applied to the making of high-efficiency solar cells, with a conversion rate as high as 20-23%.

James Chen, AUO's Senior Associate Vice President of the Solar Photovoltaic Business Unit will be speaking at the Taiwan Photovoltaic Industry Forum on the morning of March 4 during PV EXPO. The topic is to be AUO's Green Solutions.

AUO has actively invested in solar business and planned for the solar value chain from upstream to downstream. The Company has partners in Europe for the development of several solar projects. In addition, a reliability lab for the testing of solar modules has been set up in Taichung, with its product quality certified by TUV Rheinland, a global leader in independent testing and assessment services from Germany. The plan is to next launch solar business operating points in China this year. With the strategy to provide total solutions, AUO will cooperate closely with partners in the industry value chain to further develop the global solar market.

ABOUT AU OPTRONICS

AU Optronics Corp. (AUO) is a worldwide top three manufacturer* of thin film transistor liquid crystal display panels (TFT-LCD). AUO is able to provide customers with a full range of panel sizes and comprehensive applications, offering TFT-LCD panels in sizes ranging from 1.2 inches to greater than 65 inches. AUO generated NT$359.3 billion (US$11.2 billion) in sales revenue in 2009 and now houses a staff of more than 42,000 employees throughout with global operations in Taiwan, Mainland China, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, the U.S., and Europe. Additionally, AUO is the first pure TFT-LCD manufacturer to be successfully listed at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). AUO extended its market to green energy industry in late 2008, and formally founded the Solar Photovoltaic Business Unit in October 2009. For more information, please visit AUO.com.

* DisplaySearch 3Q2009 WW Large-Area TFT-LCD Shipment Report. This data is used as reference only and AUO does not make any endorsement or representation in connection therewith. 2009 year end revenue converted by an exchange rate of NTD31.95:USD1.

Safe Harbour Notice

AU Optronics Corp. ("AUO" or the "Company") (TAIEX: 2409; NYSE: AUO), a worldwide top three manufacturer of large-size TFT-LCD panels, today announced the above news. Except for statements in respect of historical matters, the statements contained in this Release are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These forward-looking statements were based on our management's expectations, projections and beliefs at the time regarding matters including, among other things, future revenues and costs, financial performance, technology changes, capacity, utilization rates, yields, process and geographical diversification, future expansion plans and business strategy. Such forward looking statements are subject to a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties that can cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements, including risks related to the flat panel display industry, the TFT-LCD market, acceptance and demand for our products, technological and development risks, competitive factors, and other risks described in the section entitled "Risk Factors" in our Form 20-F filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission on June 4th, 2008.

SOURCE AU Optronics Corp.