Core Viewpoint - The Chinese passenger car retail and wholesale sales are expected to reach historical highs in 2025, surpassing market expectations from last year [1] Group 1: Industry Resilience - The automotive industry is anticipated to be more resilient than market expectations, with retail sales in 2026 expected to remain stable year-on-year despite the reduction of replacement subsidies and halving of new energy vehicle purchase tax incentives [2] - Wholesale volume is projected to grow by 2.9% year-on-year in 2026, supported by an increase in exports [2] - The report suggests that if sales are weak in the first half of 2026, there is a possibility of new government stimulus policies being introduced [2] Group 2: Market Trends and Competition - The competition in the Chinese automotive industry is expected to intensify in 2026 due to a record number of new model releases, with some companies benefiting from aggressive pricing strategies [3] - Chinese brands are expected to continue increasing their market share, while foreign brands will launch more localized new energy models [3] - The demand for energy storage batteries is expected to improve, leading to a rise in battery prices, which may impact automaker profit margins [3] - Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) are anticipated to regain growth momentum in 2026 due to the introduction of new models and the reduction of subsidies [3] Group 3: New Energy Vehicle Landscape - The competition in the new energy vehicle sector is expected to enter a new phase in the second half of 2026, with valuation premiums between new players and traditional automakers likely to narrow [4] - The competitive landscape will expand beyond vehicle manufacturing to include AI applications, such as Robotaxi and robotics [4] - Foreign brands are expected to accelerate the launch of new energy models, gaining a deeper understanding of the Chinese market [4] Group 4: Investment Recommendations - The preferred stock in the automotive sector is Geely Automobile, which has solid fundamentals and attractive valuations, with potential for continued growth in new energy vehicle sales [5] - The high-margin models expected to launch in the second half of 2025, along with accelerated new energy exports, are likely to boost profit margins for Geely [5] - In the battery sector, attention is drawn to the new player, Zhengli New Energy, which has achieved industry-leading profit margins due to its efficient operations and is expected to benefit from an optimized customer structure and potential battery price increases [5]