Industry Overview - As of July 4, the price of battery-grade lithium carbonate is between 61,300 to 63,300 CNY per ton, with an average price of 62,300 CNY per ton, reflecting a week-on-week increase of 200 CNY per ton. Industrial-grade lithium carbonate is priced between 60,200 to 61,200 CNY per ton, with an average of 60,700 CNY per ton, also up by 200 CNY per ton week-on-week. The spot price of lithium carbonate continues to show a slight upward trend due to improved demand expectations for July and strong support from rigid demand [1] - The penetration rate of new energy vehicles (NEVs) in June is expected to reach a new high, with wholesale sales of NEV manufacturers estimated at 1.26 million units, a year-on-year increase of 29%. Cumulatively, from January to June, wholesale sales reached 6.47 million units, a year-on-year increase of 38% [6][5] - In May, the export value of automotive goods reached 20.67 billion USD, marking a year-on-year increase of 12.2%. The total import and export value of automotive goods for May was 25.06 billion USD, with imports valued at 4.38 billion USD and exports at 20.67 billion USD [5][6] Company Developments - XPeng Motors launched the new AI smart family SUV, XPeng G7, with a starting price of 195,800 CNY. The vehicle features advanced AI capabilities and is the world's first L3-level AI car, achieving 2250 TOPS of effective computing power [7] - GAC Group announced that its first model in collaboration with Huawei is expected to be launched in 2026, focusing on the high-end market segment priced around 300,000 CNY [8] - NIO's founder Li Bin stated that the company has achieved its strategic goal of self-developed chips, with the global first automotive-grade 5nm intelligent driving chip, Shenji NX9031, now being applied in several models [9] Policy and Market Trends - The Ministry of Commerce will enhance guidance on the export of used cars to promote healthy and orderly development in this sector. The export business for used cars was officially launched nationwide in February 2024 [4] - Jinan city has initiated its first round of automotive consumption subsidies for the second half of 2025, with a total subsidy amount of 12 million CNY available for individuals and enterprises purchasing non-operational passenger vehicles [4]

New Energy Vehicles Delivery Overview - BYD delivered 383,000 vehicles in June, a year-on-year increase of 11.98% [2] - NIO delivered 24,925 vehicles in June, a year-on-year increase of 17.5% [2] - Leap Motor delivered 48,000 vehicles, a year-on-year increase of 138.65% [2] - Li Auto delivered 36,000 vehicles, a year-on-year decrease of 24.06% [2] - Xpeng delivered 35,000 vehicles, a year-on-year increase of 224.44% [2] - Xiaomi delivered over 25,000 units, maintaining over 20,000 units for eight consecutive months [2] - Seres sold 46,086 new energy vehicles in June, a year-on-year increase of 4.44% [2] - Great Wall Motors sold 110,700 units in June, a year-on-year increase of 12.86% [2] - Zeekr sold 16,702 units, a year-on-year decrease of 17% [2] - Lynk & Co sold 26,310 units, a year-on-year increase of 8% [2] - GAC Aion sold 27,848 units in June [2] - Deep Blue delivered 29,893 vehicles in June, a year-on-year increase of 79% [2] - Avita sold 10,153 vehicles in June, a year-on-year increase of 117% [3] - Lantu delivered 10,053 vehicles in June, a year-on-year increase of 83% [3] Xiaomi's New Initiatives - Xiaomi launched youth apartments in Beijing and Nanjing with a monthly rent of 1,999 yuan, prioritizing fresh graduates [3] - Xiaomi's YU7 model received high demand, prompting other car manufacturers to offer compensation for customers who switch to their brands [6] Tesla Management Restructuring - Tesla adjusted its management structure, with Elon Musk taking over sales in Europe and North America, while Zhu Xiaotong oversees global manufacturing [6] NIO's Chip Development - NIO's self-developed 5nm automotive-grade chip, NX9031, has reached its design performance targets, marking a significant milestone in its chip development efforts [6] New Company Establishments - Chongqing Qianli Zhijia Technology Co., Ltd. was established with a registered capital of 10.5 million yuan, focusing on smart vehicle equipment and AI hardware [9] Investment and Financing Activities - Tianyan Pharmaceutical announced a strategic investment of up to $25 million from Sanofi to support the development of its SAFEbody® antibody projects [18] - Figma filed for an IPO in the US, seeking to trade under the ticker "FIG" [18] - Lingchuan Technology completed a multi-hundred million yuan Series A financing round to expand its AI chip development [18]

Core Viewpoint - The automotive industry is entering a new era of chip self-research and high computing power, driven by the need for advanced autonomous driving capabilities, particularly L3 level automation, as exemplified by companies like Xiaopeng and NIO [6][39][60]. Group 1: Chip Development and Competition - The competition for automotive computing power began around 2021, initiated by NVIDIA's Orin-X chip, which boasts a computing power of 254 TOPS, significantly surpassing Mobileye's Q5H and Tesla's HW3.0 [1][6]. - Companies like NIO have adopted multiple Orin-X chips, achieving over 1000 TOPS in computing power [3]. - The automotive computing power has fluctuated between 80 to 1000 TOPS over the past four years, but a new phase has emerged in 2023 with the introduction of self-developed chips [5][34]. Group 2: Self-Developed Chips and Industry Trends - Xiaopeng's self-developed 5nm chip, NX9031, is expected to reach 2000 TOPS with two chips in the ET9 model, while the Xiaopeng G7 features three self-developed Turing AI chips, achieving 2200 TOPS [6][39]. - The trend of automakers developing their own chips is gaining momentum, similar to Tesla's earlier journey, as companies seek to overcome the limitations of the "black box" model previously used with suppliers like Mobileye [9][30]. - The emergence of domestic chip companies like Horizon and Black Sesame Intelligence is diversifying the market, with many automakers now developing their own chips that can compete with NVIDIA's flagship products [35][38]. Group 3: The Shift to L3 Autonomous Driving - The automotive industry is approaching the L3 autonomous driving era, with Xiaopeng defining its G7 as the "world's first L3 level AI car" [39]. - The effective computing power required for L3 autonomous driving has been clarified by Xiaopeng at 2200 TOPS, indicating a significant leap from L2 systems [43][55]. - The transition to L3 involves not only technological advancements but also a shift in liability, as vehicles may be held accountable for accidents, increasing pressure on automakers to refine their technologies [56][58]. Group 4: Challenges in Chip Development - The journey of self-developing chips is fraught with challenges, including architectural issues and the risk of costly failures during the chip manufacturing process [62][64]. - Companies must also ensure that their chips meet stringent automotive safety standards, which can extend the validation period significantly [69]. - The need for large-scale production to recoup development costs is critical, with estimates suggesting that around 1 million units may be necessary for profitability [71].