Japanese Sharp plans to spend approximately 100 billion yen (US$1.2 billion; US$1=83.7 yen) on adding production lines at a plant located in Mie Prefecture, Japan for manufacturing small- and medium-sized LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) panels for Apple iPhone, according to a December 16, 2010 report by the Reuters. It is reported that part of the investment will come from Apple. Equipment installation is slated to begin in 2011, and volume production of the Sharp plant is scheduled to start in the second half of 2012.

In related news, Toshiba also plans to build a LCD plant at Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan to produce small-sized LCDs for Apple iPhone, according to the same source. The new Toshiba plant is valued at approximately 100 billion yen (US$1.2 billion). Construction of the Toshiba plant is slated to begin in early 2011, and volume production is expected to start in the second half of 2011.