BYD to cut salaries due to lower profits

By Li Fangfang (chinadaily.com.cn)

2012-06-28 15:41

Chinese battery and vehicle maker BYD Co plans to cut salaries due to sharply lower profits amid lackluster market performance.

According to an internal document, BYD will cut bonuses between June and September by 18 percent, which will make the total earnings of employees in the Shenzhen-based company slide by 14 percent during that period.

The move is expected to reduce by about 240 million yuan ($38 million) the human resource costs for the Warren Buffett-backed company. BYD reported a net profit of 1.39 billion yuan in 2011.

In the first quarter, BYD sold 110,000 vehicles, down 8 percent from the previous year.

China's automobile market slowed down in 2011, after two strong years. The continued slowdown of the domestic market brings challenges for China's homegrown auto brands, including BYD.

The market share of domestic auto brands has dropped for three consecutive months. The downturn trend is expected to continue as the market is seen stagnating.

lifangfang@chinadaily.com.cn

Paper kettle

An Italian designer, Andrea Ponti, designed a recycled paper-made water container for the Milano Expo 2015, according to yankodesign.com.

Bamboo treecycle

The Bamboo treecycle developed by MGT Engineering Ltd is on dispay at the 21th China Int'l Bicycle and Motor Fair.

Charger captures power from Wifi

A US electronics company invented a charger that draws its power from Wifi signals.

Green innovative products and tech show kicks off

China's most influential international exhibition of green industries is held at the China Import and Export Fair from Friday to Sunday in Guangzhou, Guangdong province.

Making green dreams economic realities

Twenty-one private enterprises from China will join the China Going Green Dialogues - part of the 2012 UN Conference on Sustainable Development, known as Rio+20 - in June, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Yichun to host green tourism festival

Heilongjiang Forest Ecological Tourism Festival, an event aiming to promote healthy and environmentally friendly tourism, will be held in Yichun, Heilongjiang province, on July 13.