Key Points Summary of the Conference Call Company Overview - The conference call discusses the performance and strategic direction of **Nexteer Automotive** in the context of the automotive industry, particularly focusing on steering technologies and electric power steering (EPS) systems. Core Insights and Arguments - **New Product Launch**: Nexteer plans to begin mass production of new products in the first half of 2026, which is among the company's top ten key projects. The production volume is expected to be flexible, depending on technological reliability and regulatory environment. The unit value is projected to be at least 3,000 yuan [2][6] - **Market Dynamics**: The advancement of steer-by-wire technology is progressing rapidly in North America and Europe, with significant developments from T Company and other major automakers like Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz, Stellantis, and Toyota. However, due to a slowdown in electrification, many projects are delayed by at least two years. In the short term, large-scale commercialization is primarily focused on the Chinese market [2][10] - **Strategic Partnerships**: Nexteer has become a strategic supplier for several Chinese automakers, including Geely, Great Wall, Chery, GAC, BYD, and new energy vehicle companies like Li Auto, Xpeng, and Xiaomi. The new energy vehicle companies are moving faster than traditional manufacturers, indicating continued opportunities in the existing customer base [2][11] - **Product Solutions**: To address price competition in the Chinese market for C-EPS, Nexteer offers various product solutions, including brushed and brushless motor EPS, as well as high-output versions of C-EPS. The company maintains an advantage in the high-end R-EPS sector and is expanding into DPEPS, having secured orders from four domestic clients [2][12] Additional Important Content - **Cost Management**: Nexteer has achieved a 20% cost reduction through modular design and autonomous motor production, with plans to gradually expand this initiative from the Chinese market to the Asia-Pacific and Western markets [4][16] - **Revenue Growth**: The revenue increase in 2025 is expected to primarily come from DP EPS, although overall growth will still rely on C EPS and R EPS. Strong customer growth was noted in the first half of the year, particularly with BYD and Xiaomi [4][15] - **Market Performance**: The North American market is expected to perform better than anticipated in the second half of the year, driven by improved production efficiency and demand. The European market is also projected to enhance profitability through operational improvements [17][19] - **Future Orders**: Nexteer anticipates securing its first EMB order from a traditional Chinese OEM by the end of 2025 or early 2026, with ongoing efforts to establish a foothold in overseas markets [23] - **Technological Advancements**: The rear-wheel steering technology is rapidly commercializing in China, with expectations of a demand for approximately 1 million units in the coming years. This technology is gaining traction among overseas clients due to effective cost control [25][26] This summary encapsulates the key points discussed in the conference call, highlighting Nexteer's strategic initiatives, market dynamics, and future outlook in the automotive industry.

Core Insights - The company reported a revenue of $2.242 billion for the first half of 2025, representing a year-on-year growth of 6.8% and a net profit of $63 million, which is a significant increase of 293.8% [1] - EBITDA for 1H2025 reached $230 million, showing a year-on-year growth of 16.8% [1] - New business orders totaled $1.5 billion, with strong demand from Chinese OEMs and a significant order for a full-size pickup platform in North America [1] Revenue and Profitability - Revenue distribution for 1H2025: North America accounted for 51%, Asia-Pacific for 31%, and Europe, Middle East, Africa, and South America for 18% [1] - Year-on-year revenue growth rates for these regions were 1.7% for North America, 15.5% for Asia-Pacific, and 9.4% for Europe, Middle East, Africa, and South America [1] - Profit margins for 1H2025 were 7.6% in North America, 16.9% in Asia-Pacific, and 8.8% in Europe, Middle East, Africa, and South America [1] Strategic Developments - The company opened a new factory in Changshu in January 2025, producing products such as REPS, DPEPS, SbW, RWS, and EMB [1] - Plans are in place to relocate the Liuzhou factory to a new site, expected to be operational in the first half of 2026, focusing on BEPS, CEPS, high-output CEPS, and mechanical steering systems, along with advanced laboratories and testing lanes [1] Future Projections - The company is projected to achieve a net profit of $146 million, $192 million, and $244 million for the years 2025, 2026, and 2027 respectively, with corresponding PE ratios of 15.22, 11.60, and 9.12 [2]

Business Performance & Bookings - The company secured $0.8 billion in new business bookings in Q1 2025 [12, 15] - The company anticipates securing $5.0 billion in bookings for the remainder of 2025 [12] - Asia Pacific accounted for 45% of Q1 bookings, North America 36%, and EMEASA 19% [15] - Bookings from Chinese OEMs represented 61% of the total, while other OEMs accounted for 39% [15] - New/Conquest programs made up 54% of Q1 bookings, with incumbent programs accounting for 46% [15] Program Launches & Product Portfolio - The company launched 23 new programs in Q1 2025, including 14 BEV (Battery Electric Vehicle) programs [7] - 15 programs were launched in the APAC region, and 19 were new/conquest programs [7] - Major program launches in Q1 included Fiat Panda (CEPS), BMW 2-Series Gran Coupe (SPEPS), and Cadillac Vistiq (I-Shafts; Halfshafts) [8] - The company is expanding its "Motion-by-Wire" chassis portfolio, including Rear Wheel Steering (RWS), Hand Wheel Actuator (HWA), and Electro-Mechanical Braking (EMB) [17, 18] Strategic Considerations - The company is navigating a dynamic environment, closely monitoring tariff policies and working to mitigate their impact [20, 21] - The company's supply chain and manufacturing strategy is focused by region, with a majority of Mexico imports to the US being USMCA compliant [20] - The company is strategically expanding into "Motion-by-Wire" chassis control and expects more 'By-Wire' bookings throughout the year [21] - The company is pursuing a strategy for profitable growth, including capitalizing on megatrends, strengthening technology leadership, and optimizing cost structure [22, 23]

Core Viewpoint - Nexteer launched 23 new projects in Q1 2025, with 60.9% focused on new energy vehicles (NEVs), driven by strong demand from Chinese NEV OEMs and significant bookings from North American clients [1] Group 1: Business Performance - The Company secured bookings totaling US$0.8 billion in Q1 2025, representing 16.0% of its full-year target of US$5.0 billion [1] - New energy vehicle projects accounted for 14 out of 23 new projects, highlighting the Company's focus on this sector [1] - The Company is actively developing new products, including Electro-Mechanical Braking (EMB) and enhancing its Rear Wheel Steering (RWS) systems [1] Group 2: Market Environment - The Company is facing manageable impacts from US tariffs, primarily affecting parts and raw materials from Canada and Mexico, with a 25% tariff on non-compliant automobile parts [1] - Most products exported from Mexico to the U.S. comply with USMCA, allowing them to maintain tariff-free status [1] - The Company is optimizing its supply chain and manufacturing strategies to mitigate market uncertainties and policy risks [1] Group 3: Regulatory Developments - The Trump administration plans to relax regulations on autonomous driving, which will benefit Nexteer's autonomous driving-related business, particularly in high-capacity EPS and advanced SBW and RWS business units [2] - The relaxation of compliance procedures for self-driving vehicles for non-commercial purposes is expected to further support the development of autonomous driving in the U.S. [2] Group 4: Investment Outlook - The Company maintains a "Buy" investment rating with a target price of HK$6.50 per share, reflecting a 15.6x 2025 PER [2]