Tech upgrades fuel industrial growth in Liangjiang

Liangjiang New Area has reported 4.43 billion yuan ($617.95 million) in technological upgrade investments during the first half of 2025, accounting for 31.8 percent of its industrial investment.

Following the 2024 action plan, which promotes large-scale equipment renewal and consumer goods trade-ins, policy enhancements made earlier this year have further stimulated industrial upgrades and consumer spending, aligning with China's national drive.

 

Seres Super Factory in Liangjiang New Area. [Photo provided to english.liangjiang.gov.cn]

The Seres Super Factory, a flagship facility in the global auto industry, has enhanced production value through high-level technological upgrades and equipment renewal.

In June, CATL launched its first localized battery production facility in Chongqing, featuring a cutting-edge CTP (Cell-to-Pack) line co-developed with Seres. This intelligent, digital factory produces batteries that meet top-tier performance standards in terms of energy density and safety.

This follows a breakthrough in April, when the factory unveiled the world's largest integrated die-cast magnesium alloy rear vehicle body. Achieving 48 technical advances, including 12 industry firsts, this product reduces weight by 21.8 percent and boosts overall performance by over 10 percent compared to aluminum.

A Seres representative said that these innovations have enhanced efficiency and quality, accelerating the company's progress in intelligent manufacturing. 

Automotive suppliers are also ramping up R&D investments, upgrading production equipment, and refining processes to meet surging demand for next-generation components. Chongqing Hi-lex Cable System Group, a supplier to 120 global automakers like BMW and Toyota, exemplifies this shift.

In its window regulator workshop, digital lines now require just two operators, down from either four or six. "Digital equipment boosts efficiency," said Huang Lifeng, head of the company’s Intelligent Equipment Division.

Hi-lex has invested over 30 million yuan in 15 sets of automated systems, resulting in a nearly 10 percent reduction in production costs. This tech-driven approach has propelled Hi-lex's growth, with output reaching 461.65 million yuan, a 6.7 percent year-over-year increase. The company is also expanding globally by exporting its self-developed equipment and solutions, including over 30 million yuan worth of products that were exported to Thailand in 2024.

Liangjiang is accelerating technological upgrades and equipment renewal through targeted policy support and enterprise services, according to Liu Liangliang, deputy director of the Economic Operation Bureau of Liangjiang New Area. The area has implemented over 200 intelligent upgrade projects and established 121 municipal-level digital workshops, as well as 26 smart factories.