Core Viewpoint - The automotive industry is at a new crossroads, with the end of the electric vehicle (EV) boom and the rise of smart technology. Commercial vehicles and two-wheelers are seen as promising investment areas. The company suggests two strategies: finding cyclical alpha varieties and embracing the next industrial trends of smart technology and robotics/AIDC [1] Automotive Sector Forecast for 2026 - Passenger vehicle sector: The industry will be impacted by a 5% new energy vehicle purchase tax, with an overall domestic demand expectation of 3.5%. Total domestic sales are projected at 22 million units (down 3.5% year-on-year), with new energy domestic sales at 13.2 million units (up 6.4% year-on-year). Total external sales are expected to be 6.41 million units (up 12.0% year-on-year), with new energy external sales at 3.52 million units (up 43.9% year-on-year) [1] - Heavy truck sector: Under neutral predictions, wholesale sales are expected to reach 1.16 million units (up 1.5% year-on-year), with domestic sales at 770,000 units (down 5.5% year-on-year) and external sales at 390,000 to 400,000 units (up 18.8% year-on-year) [1] - Bus sector: Continued resonance in domestic and external demand is expected, with export growth likely to maintain over 30%, and new energy export growth anticipated to be even faster. Domestic sales are projected at 81,000 units (up 3% year-on-year), with exports at 76,400 units (up 30% year-on-year) [1] - Motorcycle sector: Total industry sales are expected to reach 19.38 million units (up 14% year-on-year), with large-displacement motorcycles at 1.26 million units (up 31% year-on-year). Domestic sales are projected at 3.99 million units (down 9% year-on-year), while external sales are expected to be 15.39 million units (up 21% year-on-year) [1] Investment Opportunities - Passenger vehicle sector: Preferred stocks include Yutong Bus (600066) and attention to King Long Motor (600686) [2] - Motorcycle sector: Top picks are Chunfeng Power (603129) and Longxin General (603766) [2] - Heavy truck sector: Preferred stocks include China National Heavy Duty Truck Group (000951) H and Weichai Power (000338) [2] - Passenger car sector: Top choice is BYD (002594), with Jianghuai Automobile (600418) as a preferred option [2] - Parts sector: Preferred stocks include Fuyao Glass (600660), Xingyu Co., Ltd. (601799), and Minth Group (002743) [2] Growth Opportunities - L4RoboX investment opportunities: Focus on the L4RoboX industry chain, with B-end software targets preferred over C-end hardware. Top picks include XPeng Motors and Horizon Robotics in H-shares, and Qianli Technology and Desay SV in A-shares [3] - Robotics/AIDC investment opportunities: The overseas Optimus V3 is expected to be finalized in 2026, with rapid capital progress in domestic robotics. Preferred stocks in the robotics and liquid cooling sectors include Top Group (601689) and Junsheng Electronics (600699) [3]

Core Conclusions - The 2026 automotive industry investment strategy emphasizes "breaking old and establishing new," suggesting that the industry is at a crossroads similar to 2011 and 2018, with the end of the electric vehicle (EV) boom and the rise of smart technology [2][3] - The report predicts a total domestic demand of 22 million vehicles in 2026, a decrease of 3.5% year-on-year, with new energy vehicle (NEV) sales expected to reach 13.2 million, an increase of 6.4% [2][10] - The commercial vehicle sector is expected to see a wholesale volume of 1.16 million units in 2026, with a slight increase of 1.5% year-on-year, while the bus sector is projected to maintain strong export growth [2][19] Passenger Vehicle Sector - The passenger vehicle sector is projected to experience a total sales volume of 22 million units in 2026, with NEV sales expected to reach 13.2 million units, reflecting a year-on-year growth of 6.4% [2][10] - The report highlights the impact of a 5% purchase tax on NEVs starting January 1, 2026, which is expected to support domestic demand [10] - Key investment opportunities include BYD and Jianghuai Automobile in the passenger vehicle sector [2][3] Commercial Vehicle Sector - The heavy truck segment is forecasted to have a wholesale volume of 1.16 million units in 2026, with domestic sales expected to decline by 5.5% to 770,000 units, while exports are projected to grow by 18.8% [2][15] - The bus sector is expected to see a total domestic sales volume of 81,000 units, with exports anticipated to grow by over 30% [2][19] Motorcycle Sector - The motorcycle industry is expected to achieve total sales of 19.38 million units in 2026, representing a year-on-year increase of 14%, with large-displacement motorcycles projected to grow by 31% [2][22] - Domestic sales of large-displacement motorcycles are expected to reach 430,000 units, while exports are projected to grow significantly [22] Investment Opportunities - The report identifies key investment opportunities across various segments, including Yutong Bus and King Long in the bus sector, and Spring Power and Longxin General in the motorcycle sector [2][3] - The focus on L4 RoboX investment opportunities highlights the importance of software over hardware in the autonomous driving sector, with recommended stocks including XPeng Motors and Horizon Robotics [2][3] Growth Trends - The report anticipates a continued focus on smart technology and robotics, with significant growth expected in the L4 RoboX industry and AIDC (Automated Identification and Data Capture) sectors [2][3] - The penetration rate of smart driving technology in new energy vehicles is expected to reach 40% by 2026, with a notable shift in chip supplier market shares [13][14]