Core Insights - NIO Inc. has implemented a Cell Business Unit (CBU) mechanism to enhance control over R&D expenses starting from Q2 2025, focusing on distinct operational units with clear ROI targets and performance incentives [1][8] - The company has set a non-GAAP R&D expense target of RMB 2 billion per quarter for Q3 and Q4 [2][8] - NIO aims to reduce SG&A expenses to below 10% of sales revenues by Q4 2025, despite not expecting breakeven on SG&A in Q3 due to new product launches [4][8] R&D and Expense Management - NIO's CBU system allows each division to track costs independently, ensuring accountability for both current and projected expenses [1][8] - The company emphasizes that major product planning and core R&D activities will remain unaffected while improving efficiency [2] Sales and Revenue Expectations - In Q2, NIO's sales volume was around 70,000 units, with a relatively high SG&A ratio to revenues, which is expected to decline as sales and revenues increase in subsequent quarters [3][4] - NIO's goal is to bring non-GAAP SG&A expenses down to within 10% of sales revenues by Q4 [4][8] Competitive Landscape - Rivian Automotive is optimizing engineering and supply chain costs, with expected material cost reductions of 20% for its second-generation R1 models and nearly 50% for the R2 model compared to R1 [5] - Li Auto is focusing on in-house battery development and thermal management systems to enhance product competitiveness and reduce production costs [6] Market Performance and Valuation - NIO has outperformed the Zacks Automotive-Foreign industry year-to-date, with shares increasing by 76.6% compared to the industry's 3.8% growth [7] - Valuation metrics indicate that NIO appears overvalued, trading at a forward sales multiple of 0.89, higher than the industry's 0.45 [9] Earnings Estimates - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for NIO's loss per share for 2025 has narrowed by a penny, while the estimate for 2026 has widened by a penny in the past 30 days [10]