Core Viewpoint - The domestic automotive circulation industry in China is facing intensified market competition and uneven consumer recovery in the first half of 2025, leading to significant challenges for dealers and a notable decline in performance across major groups [1] Group 1: Industry Performance - Only 30.3% of dealers achieved their sales targets in the first half of 2025, with a loss ratio rising to 52.6% [1] - 74.4% of dealers experienced varying degrees of price inversion, resulting in a situation where sales volume increased but revenue and profits did not [1] - Major listed dealer groups are experiencing exacerbated losses, with performance significantly diverging, highlighting the importance of the new energy vehicle (NEV) business as a key variable [1] Group 2: Financial Results of Major Dealers - Zhongsheng Holdings (00881.HK) reported a revenue of 77.322 billion yuan, a year-on-year decrease of 6.2%, and a net profit of 1.011 billion yuan, down 36% [2] - New car sales revenue for Zhongsheng was 57.931 billion yuan, down 4.7%, with new car sales volume at 228,600 units, a decrease of 1.7% [2] - Yongda Automotive (03669.HK) saw a revenue of 27.072 billion yuan, down 12.8%, and a net loss of 3.33 billion yuan, compared to a net profit of 110 million yuan last year [3] - Yongda's new car sales volume was 72,501 units, down 13.4%, with new car sales and related services revenue at 20.532 billion yuan, a decline of 14.4% [3] - Meidong Automotive (01268.HK) reported a revenue of 10.135 billion yuan, down 4.9%, and a net loss of approximately 815 million yuan, a nearly 30-fold increase from the previous year [3] Group 3: Strategic Adjustments and Opportunities - Dealers are actively adjusting their structures and shifting focus towards new energy vehicles, which have become a significant growth engine [4] - Zhongsheng noted that the AITO brand contributed to sales with 11,000 units sold, partially offsetting declines in other brands [4] - Yongda's independent NEV brand sales reached 10,312 units, a substantial increase of 49%, with nearly 6,000 orders retained for future growth [4] - The after-sales service remains a stable profit source, with Yongda's after-sales service revenue at 4.784 billion yuan, and NEV repair income rising by 75.8% [5] - Both Zhongsheng and Yongda anticipate ongoing competition but also see structural opportunities in the electric transformation of the industry and the growing after-sales market [5]