Core Viewpoint - CATL's subsidiary, Ningde Times (Shanghai) Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd., has completed a 2 billion RMB financing round, with a pre-investment valuation of 9 billion RMB, and is expected to exceed 10 billion RMB post-investment, indicating a significant growth trajectory for the company [2][3]. Group 1: Financing and Ownership Structure - CATL currently holds 80.01% of the shares in Ningde Times Intelligent, while Ningbo Meishan Free Trade Port Zone Ningchuang Zhiyuan Venture Capital Partnership (Limited Partnership) holds 9.9% [3]. - This financing marks the first time Ningde Times Intelligent has opened equity to external capital, suggesting a strategic move to accelerate its chassis business [3]. Group 2: Business Development and Product Offerings - Established in July 2021 with a registered capital of 2.5 billion RMB, Ningde Times Intelligent focuses on key technologies such as electric vehicle chassis, three-electric integration, and intelligent control [3]. - The company plans to utilize the financing for project capacity construction and technology development for new scenarios like Robotaxi [3][9]. - The launch of the "Rock" chassis in December 2024 is expected to significantly enhance safety and reduce development cycles for new vehicle models [4]. Group 3: Market Position and Competitive Advantage - The "Rock" chassis can reduce the development cycle of a vehicle from 3 years to 12-18 months and is projected to lower the BOM cost by 5% [4]. - CATL's entry into the chassis market is closely tied to its core battery business, leveraging its CTC technology to enhance energy density and space utilization [6]. - The company aims to transition from a "single battery supplier" to a "comprehensive energy solution provider" to maintain its market position [7]. Group 4: Industry Challenges and Opportunities - The automotive industry faces challenges as automakers are also participants in chassis technology, which may limit the market space for chassis suppliers [7]. - There are existing tensions between automakers and third-party chassis suppliers regarding profit and supply chain security [8]. - The maturation of conditions for commercializing autonomous driving, particularly in Robotaxi scenarios, presents a potential breakthrough for the chassis market [9].