Core Viewpoint - Cao Cao Travel is attempting to adapt to the competitive landscape of the ride-hailing market, facing challenges in profitability and market positioning while preparing for its IPO to raise funds for expansion and debt repayment [3][4][48]. Financial Performance - Cao Cao Travel's revenue has shown improvement over the past three years, with projected revenues of 7.631 billion RMB, 10.668 billion RMB, and 14.657 billion RMB for 2022, 2023, and 2024 respectively [8][9]. - The gross profit has turned positive in 2023, reaching 5.8%, and is expected to increase to 8.1% in 2024, although it still lags behind competitors like Didi [16][10]. - The company has accumulated a total net loss of 5.234 billion RMB over the past three years, with expectations of continued losses in 2025 [21][25]. Market Positioning - Cao Cao Travel holds a market share of only 5.4%, significantly trailing behind Didi, which commands 70.4% of the market [10][35]. - The company has shifted its strategy to focus on cost control and profitability, aiming for nationwide profitability by August 2023 [29][30]. Business Model - The company operates on a heavy asset B2C model, which incurs higher costs compared to the platform model used by competitors [12][11]. - Cao Cao Travel has increasingly relied on aggregation platforms for orders, with the proportion of GTV from these platforms rising from 49.9% in 2022 to 85.4% in 2024 [18][45]. Debt and Financing - As of the end of 2024, Cao Cao Travel's debt reached 11.283 billion RMB, with a significant portion being short-term liabilities, raising concerns about liquidity [23][24]. - The company last raised funds in 2021, and the current IPO aims to address urgent financial needs, including debt repayment [25][48]. Strategic Adaptation - The company is focusing on expanding into lower-tier cities, with plans to enter 178 new markets, which could enhance its growth potential [42][43]. - The shift towards a "parasitic" model, relying on aggregation platforms, has both advantages in terms of rapid expansion and disadvantages in terms of brand autonomy and pricing power [40][45]. Future Outlook - The upcoming IPO is seen as a critical opportunity for Cao Cao Travel to secure necessary funding and clarify its competitive advantages in the market [49][50].