China-based MicroLED microdisplay developer JBD is starting to construct the 2nd phase of its Hefei MicroLED production fab. The company held a ceremony to break ground on its new project, saying that it actually started 62 days ahead of its original schedule, as the local government of Hefei processed its applications faster than expected.
This is the 2nd phase of JBD's $92 million microLED fab, that started production in 2023. JBD says that the 2nd phase investment will total $100 million. In 2025, the company said that its output volume increased over 160% from 2024, and the new line will help it increase its capacity, while also enabling more R&D projects.
When JBD built its fab in 2023, it said that its total annual capacity is 120 million 0.13" panels - it is likely that this includes both phases.
JBD recently made some very interesting announcements. Towards the end of 2025, JBD launched a new color projector module, branded as Roadrunner I. The Roadrunner I projector utilizes JBD's latest 10,160 PPI (2.5 um pitch) Hummingbird monochrome microLED microdisplay, that JBD announced some months earlier. Built on an X-cube architecture, "Roadrunner I" is engineered down to just 0.2 cubic centimeters in volume and only 0.5 grams in weight. In June 2026, JBD introduced the Roadrunner II - a 2.5 micron pixel-pitch SVGA (800x600) 0.18 cc full color microLED projector. Based on the Roadrunner II, JBD also introduced a monocular full-color AR glasses development kit.
JBD also recently launched an automotive-grade microLED projection system.
In May 2026, JBD announced that it has completed a major upgrade of its microLED microdisplay mass-production architecture, and has shifted from 4-inch manufacturing to a 12-inch "reconstructed" wafer platform. This is a sort of medium step before full 12-inch LED epiwafer deposition.
In 2025, JBD completed its Series B2 financing round, raising $140 million only a few months after JBD completed its series B1 round. In 2024, JBD raised its A4 round, which was also said to be in the range of "hundreds of millions of Yuan". The company's previous investors include Alibaba, Samsung, BYD and Geely. BYD is said to be working with JBD to develop MicroLED automotive applications.
In 2023 JBD announced that its $92 million production line in Hefei is starting production. The production line's total capacity is 120 million 0.13" panels, but it hasn't yet reached its full capacity.
JBD is the first company that has been mass producing microLED microdisplays. The company reported several design wins, including with Xiaomi, TCL, Alibaba, Vuzix and likely Meta for its Orion glasses.
