LEAPMOTOR(HK:09863) Mai Gao Zheng Quan·2025-04-28 07:15Investment Rating - The report assigns a "Buy" rating to the company with a target price of HKD 57.27, based on a closing price of HKD 49.40 [6]. Core Insights - The report emphasizes that Leap Motor's success is driven by its commitment to self-research and development, leading to a strong product strategy that has helped the company stand out in the competitive market [2][15]. - Leap Motor achieved its first quarterly profit in Q4 2024, with a net profit of RMB 0.8 billion, marking it as the second profitable new energy vehicle manufacturer [3][46]. - The strategic partnership with Stellantis is highlighted as a significant advantage for Leap Motor's overseas expansion, providing unique resources and market access [4][46]. Summary by Sections 1. Self-Research and Product Strategy - Leap Motor has focused on self-research since its establishment in 2015, mastering a super-integrated technology architecture, which has been upgraded to LEAP 3.5 in 2025 [2][15]. - The company targets the mainstream passenger car market priced between RMB 100,000 and 200,000, with a projected total delivery of nearly 300,000 vehicles in 2024, ranking among the top three in new energy vehicle brands [2][21]. - Three key success factors are identified: efficient launch of range-extended models, continuous upgrades of existing models, and excellent cost control leading to competitive pricing [2][3][15]. 2. Profitability and Future Outlook - Leap Motor's revenue for 2024 reached RMB 32.16 billion, a year-on-year increase of 92%, with a gross margin of 8.4% [3][46]. - The company expects sustainable profitability due to a rich new vehicle planning and strong channel capabilities, which are anticipated to drive continuous sales growth [3][46]. - The report forecasts revenues of RMB 60.5 billion, RMB 80.5 billion, and RMB 106.8 billion for 2025, 2026, and 2027 respectively, with net profits projected to reach RMB 0.69 billion, RMB 22.52 billion, and RMB 43.92 billion in the same years [5][8]. 3. Overseas Business Development - The partnership with Stellantis, a major global automotive group, is expected to enhance Leap Motor's overseas business prospects significantly [4][46]. - The collaboration allows Leap Motor to leverage Stellantis's extensive dealer network and manufacturing resources, facilitating rapid market expansion in Europe and South America [4][46]. - The report suggests that local production could significantly improve profitability by reducing export costs and replicating successful domestic production practices [4][46].