汽车行业周报：禾赛科技与零跑汽车深化合作，文远知行发布全新量产Robotaxi GXR

Investment Rating - The report maintains an "Overweight" rating for the automotive industry [2][28]. Core Insights - The automotive market is expected to see stable growth in consumer demand due to supportive policies, with retail sales of passenger vehicles reaching 823,000 units in the first half of October 2024, marking a year-on-year increase of 20% and a month-on-month increase of 17% [28]. - The report highlights a significant increase in the number of discounted models, particularly in the new energy vehicle segment, with 195 models seeing price reductions in 2024, surpassing the total for 2023 [28]. - The report suggests focusing on companies that lead in smart technology and are well-positioned in the vehicle replacement cycle, such as XPeng Motors, BYD, Xiaomi Group, and Leap Motor [28]. Market Review - In the week from October 14 to October 18, 2024, the automotive sector rose by 1.15%, ranking 17th among all primary industries [29]. - Commercial vehicles saw the highest increase at 6.75%, while passenger vehicles experienced the largest decline at 0.83% [29][32]. Industry Data Tracking Monthly Sales - In August 2024, total automotive sales were approximately 2.453 million units, with a month-on-month increase of 8.5% but a year-on-year decrease of 5% [38]. - Passenger vehicle sales in August 2024 were about 2.181 million units, reflecting a month-on-month increase of 9.4% and a year-on-year decrease of 4% [38]. Weekly Sales - For the first half of October 2024, retail sales of passenger vehicles reached 823,000 units, with a year-on-year growth of 20% [41]. Price Tracking - As of October 18, 2024, the price of battery-grade lithium carbonate was approximately 73,700 yuan per ton, down 4% from October 11, 2024 [43]. Industry Dynamics - Recent collaborations include Hesai Technology's exclusive partnership with Leap Motor for next-generation vehicle platforms, with the first model expected to be produced in 2025 [47]. - The report notes the launch of new models such as the Ford Lingrui and Nissan's Qichen VX6 during the week of October 14 to October 18, 2024 [48]. Company Dynamics - Companies like Yuanfeng Automotive and Fuyao Glass reported significant year-on-year profit increases for Q3 2024, with Fuyao's net profit rising by approximately 53.54% [49].