CHINA DRAGON SECURITIES·2026-01-12 10:04Investment Rating - The report maintains a "Recommended" investment rating for the automotive industry [2]. Core Insights - Nvidia has launched a new open-source AI model platform, Alpamayo, aimed at enhancing the capabilities of autonomous vehicles and facilitating the industrialization of Robotaxi services [5][15]. - The first fully autonomous vehicle utilizing Nvidia's system is set to undergo road testing in the US in Q1 2026, with plans for L4 level autonomous taxi services to commence in 2027 [5][25]. - The report highlights significant growth opportunities for companies involved in the autonomous driving ecosystem, including hardware suppliers and Robotaxi operators, due to reduced development costs and shorter timelines [5][16]. Industry Dynamics - Key industry news includes the announcement that China aims to achieve 18.3 million vehicle trade-ins from 2024 to 2025, with nearly 60% expected to be electric vehicles [18]. - Geely has received a license for L3 level autonomous driving road tests, marking a significant step in the development of smart driving technologies [21]. - The report notes that the automotive sector's performance has been mixed, with the automotive index underperforming compared to the broader market [5][35]. Market Performance - From January 5 to January 9, 2026, the automotive sector's index increased by 2.53%, lagging behind the Shanghai Composite Index, which rose by 2.79% [5][35]. - The report provides detailed performance metrics for various automotive sub-sectors, indicating a positive trend in automotive services and parts, with the automotive services sector seeing a 6.01% increase [5][35]. Data Tracking - In December 2025, retail sales of passenger vehicles reached 2.261 million units, reflecting a year-on-year decline of 14.15% but a month-on-month increase of 1.60% [46]. - The penetration rate of new energy vehicles in retail sales reached 59.1%, with retail sales of new energy passenger vehicles totaling 1.337 million units in December 2025, marking a year-on-year increase of 2.68% [60]. - The report also highlights the increasing adoption of advanced driving assistance systems, with L2.5 and above penetration rates reaching 37.96% in November 2025 [73].