Investment Rating - The report assigns a "Buy" rating for the company, Tuhu (09690.HK), as a leading player in the automotive aftermarket, emphasizing its continuous expansion of the integrated online and offline platform [2]. Core Insights - Tuhu has established a strong position in the automotive aftermarket, with a robust growth trajectory in revenue and net profit, alongside improving gross margins and healthy cash flow [1][2]. - The company is well-positioned to benefit from the ongoing growth in China's automotive ownership and the aging vehicle structure, which drives demand for maintenance and repair services [1][2]. - Tuhu's strategic focus on electric vehicle services and the expansion of its charging network is expected to capture new growth opportunities in the evolving automotive service landscape [1][2]. Financial Summary - Revenue is projected to grow from RMB 13.6 billion in 2023 to RMB 20.7 billion by 2027, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 11.9% [4]. - Net profit is expected to increase significantly from RMB 647 million in 2025 to RMB 1.1 billion in 2027, reflecting a strong growth rate of 28.5% [4]. - The company's earnings per share (EPS) is forecasted to rise from RMB 0.78 in 2025 to RMB 1.28 in 2027, indicating a positive trend in profitability [4]. Business Model and Market Position - Tuhu operates an integrated online and offline automotive service platform, leveraging a large user base and high customer retention through digital tools for efficient service delivery [2][10]. - The company has built a vast network of standardized service outlets using a light-asset franchise model, enhancing operational efficiency and market coverage [2][10]. - Tuhu's revenue structure is primarily driven by automotive products and services, with over 90% of revenue coming from individual end customers, indicating a strong focus on consumer needs [30][31].

Group 1 - The company achieved total revenue of RMB 7.9 billion in the first half of 2025, representing a year-on-year increase of 10.5% compared to RMB 7.1 billion in the same period of 2024, maintaining its position as the leading independent automotive service provider in China [1] - The gross profit for the period was RMB 2 billion, resulting in a gross margin of 25.2% [1] - Adjusted net profit reached RMB 410 million, an increase of 14.6% compared to the same period in 2024, with free cash flow rising by 32.2% to RMB 347 million [1] Group 2 - The company expanded its store network to 7,205 locations nationwide as of June 30, 2025, leading the industry in both total scale and growth rate [2] - The store coverage includes 320 prefecture-level administrative regions and 1,855 county-level administrative regions, with a coverage rate of 70% in counties with more than 20,000 passenger vehicles, up 5 percentage points from June 30, 2024 [2] - Over 60% of new stores opened in the first half of 2025 were located in second-tier and lower cities, with significant growth in regions such as Guangxi, Heilongjiang, Tibet, and Xinjiang, where the number of stores increased by over 20% year-on-year [2]

Core Insights - The rapid growth of automobile consumption in China is leading to a significant increase in the private car ownership, expected to surpass 300 million by the end of 2024, which in turn is driving the expansion of the automotive aftermarket and raising service quality expectations among car owners [1] - Tuhu Car Maintenance is positioned as a leading integrated online and offline automotive service brand in China, focusing on transforming the industry value chain through service essence and technology-driven standardization [1] User-Centric Approach - Tuhu Car Maintenance emphasizes user needs as the foundation for value creation in the service industry, leveraging technological innovation and process optimization to enhance service standards and user experience [2] - In 2024, Tuhu Car Maintenance has become a pioneer in the automotive aftermarket by fully focusing on AI, utilizing advancements in large model technology to continuously improve service quality and achieve a user satisfaction rate exceeding 95% across its platform [2] Franchisee Collaboration - Franchisees play a crucial role in Tuhu Car Maintenance's service value chain, with the company enhancing collaboration through support and incentive policies, resulting in over 90% of its service centers being profitable [3] - Tuhu Car Maintenance has invested nearly 100 million yuan in operational support for both new and existing stores, increasing promotional expenses by 250 million yuan compared to 2023, which has led to a 14% year-on-year increase in average promotional spending per store [3] Technician Development - Tuhu Car Maintenance focuses on building a multi-tiered talent ecosystem centered around "technology + employment," providing thousands of technicians with growth opportunities and enhancing their professional skills and job dignity [4] - The company has established partnerships with over a hundred educational institutions, creating nearly ten industry-education integration bases, and has trained over 8,000 students through these collaborations [4] - To meet the maintenance needs of electric vehicle owners, Tuhu Car Maintenance has actively developed technical talent in the new energy sector, with 868 technicians certified in low-voltage electrical work and over 4,000 trained in new energy repair techniques by the end of 2024 [4]