
Yin Tongyue, chairman of a state-owned carmaker based in Anhui province, announced a 10 billion yuan (US$1.49 billion) investment in new battery technology over the next two years, deploying 1,200 engineers to pursue innovative breakthroughs, emphasizing that no technology will be used in vehicles unless proven absolutely safe.
AI-generated summary
The announcement was made at the World Power Battery Conference in Yibin, Sichuan province, as reported by the National Business Daily. The company is based in Anhui province, central China.
Yin Tongyue, the chairman of the state-owned carmaker, which is based in central China’s Anhui province, said on Thursday that it would invest 10 billion yuan (US$1.49 billion) in the new battery technology over the next two years, with 1,200 engineers to be deployed in the hunt for innovative breakthroughs.
“Multiple [battery] technology plans are being laid out,” he told the World Power Battery Conference in Yibin, Sichuan province, the National Business Daily reported. “We will not install them in our vehicles unless they prove to be absolutely safe.”
But no solid-state batteries have been installed in mass-produced EVs.
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
The company will begin testing new battery technologies in prototype vehicles within the next two years.
Likely · Within months
No new battery technology will be installed in mass-produced EVs unless it passes absolute safety validation.
Very likely · Within years

Cathay Pacific Airways has postponed the resumption of passenger flights to Dubai and Riyadh until December at the earliest due to ongoing Middle East tensions, extending the suspension to nine months. The airline cited 'latest developments in the Middle East' and noted that services remain cancelled through November 30, with affected passengers offered rebooking, rerouting or refunds. Freighter services remain under review.

US official Greer expressed optimism about stable US-China relations and announced likely deliverables from the upcoming Trump-Xi summit, including operationalising the US-China Board of Trade and boosting US agricultural sales to China, confirming prior SCMP reports.

BYD Ocean Network Technology's flagship SUV Hiace 08 was officially launched on September 2, with an official guide price of 229,900 yuan to 279,900 yuan. The new car series comes standard with the Eye of God B-assisted driving laser version, Yunnan-A closed dual-chamber air suspension, rear-wheel steering, and has the advantages of flash charging technology and long battery life. It provides eight models including pure electric plug-in hybrid, five-seat and six-seat, four-wheel drive and two-wheel drive. The CLTC pure electric range is up to 900km, and the comprehensive range on full fuel and full battery is 1,650km.

Volkswagen announced on Thursday that it would cut about 50,000 additional jobs to cope with intensifying competition in China, high energy prices and the cost of transitioning to electric vehicles. It had previously agreed to lay off 50,000 people by the end of 2030, and has currently reached an agreement with 37,000 employees. The new plan will bring the total headcount to approximately 100,000 people. The company said manufacturing capacity far exceeds demand and four factories in Germany may face closure, but it is evaluating alternative uses, including potential use in the defense industry. Union leaders expressed support for the plan, calling it the result of a hard-fought fight for a good solution in the crisis.

Hong Kong is well positioned to overtake London and New York as the world's leading financial centre due to its legal predictability and low tax burden, according to Michael Mainelli of Z/Yen Group, creator of the Global Financial Centres Index, which showed Hong Kong ranking third in March, just one point behind London and two behind New York.

Faced with pressures such as competition from Chinese car companies, U.S. tariffs and weak demand for electric vehicles, Germany's Volkswagen Group has reached an agreement with labor unions to lay off 100,000 employees within 10 years, equivalent to 15% of the global workforce, and may close four factories in Germany, marking the largest restructuring plan in the history of the global auto industry.