Summary of the Conference Call on China EV Makers Industry Overview - **Industry**: Electric Vehicle (EV) sector in China - **Current Context**: The sector is experiencing a slowdown in demand as the Q4 volume guidance from major players is below market expectations, indicating a cautious outlook for the auto market as a whole [2][3] Key Company Insights - **XPeng and Nio**: Both companies provided Q4 volume guidance that was below street expectations, suggesting flat sales in November and December compared to October. Their share prices reacted negatively to this news [3] - **Li Auto**: While Li Auto's Q4 volume guidance is more optimistic (approximately 20% higher than October), management expressed caution regarding Q1 2026 volume and indicated weak margin guidance for Q4 2025, projecting a decrease of about 3-4 percentage points from Q3 [3] - **Demand Factors**: The expiration of local government trade-in subsidies is cited as a direct cause for the cooling demand, despite the continuation of central government scrappage subsidies and EV purchase tax exemptions until year-end [3] Market Outlook - **2026 Projections**: The overall domestic passenger vehicle (PV) market is expected to decline by 2%, with the EV market facing growth slowdowns due to policy retreats and diminishing stimulus effects. The premium segment may show resilience, while exports could become a key growth driver for mass-market companies [4][5] - **Strategic Shifts**: Some companies, like XPeng, are diversifying into new areas such as humanoid robots and robotaxis, which may take longer to yield returns [4] Valuation and Investment Strategy - **Cautious Stance**: The report maintains a cautious outlook for the near term, suggesting that the market needs time to adjust to the slowdown in domestic demand and increasing price competition [5] - **Long-term Drivers**: Continuous technological innovation, product mix upgrades, and global expansion are identified as long-term growth drivers for Chinese automakers [5] - **Recommended Companies**: Staying invested in industry leaders like CATL and BYD, as well as valuation-friendly companies like Great Wall Motor (GWM), is suggested as a prudent strategy [5] Risks and Challenges - **Traditional ICE Sector Risks**: Include economic slowdown, excessive capacity leading to oversupply, and regulatory changes affecting demand [7] - **NEV Sector Risks**: Include potential declines in government subsidies, new market entrants, and overcapacity in the NEV battery industry [7][10] - **Valuation Risks for BYD**: Changes in favorable policies, raw material price fluctuations, and overall competition in the NEV market are highlighted as downside risks [8] Conclusion - The conference call reflects a cautious sentiment in the Chinese EV market, with major players adjusting their forecasts downward amid a cooling demand environment. Strategic shifts and long-term growth drivers are emphasized, while various risks remain pertinent to the sector's outlook.