Core Insights - Tesla's CEO Elon Musk expressed optimism about the rapid adoption of its autonomous driving technology, predicting it could become the fastest adopted technology in human history [1] - Musk's comments were in response to a comparison made by industry observer Sawyer Merritt, highlighting Tesla's Robotaxi network's geographical coverage compared to Waymo's autonomous driving service [1] - Tesla's existing hardware allows for software updates to unlock autonomous driving capabilities for millions of vehicles without significant hardware modifications, facilitating rapid deployment [1] Summary by Sections - **Robotaxi Deployment**: Tesla is transitioning its Robotaxi plans into reality, having deployed an "Unsupervised FSD" system in Austin and the San Francisco Bay Area, although safety drivers are still required for monitoring [2] - **Service Area Expansion**: Tesla expanded its Robotaxi service area in Austin to 243 square miles (approximately 629.4 square kilometers), nearly tripling the coverage from two months ago, while Waymo's service area remains at about 90 square miles [4] - **Competitive Landscape**: The competition in the autonomous driving sector is shifting from achieving technological breakthroughs to scaling deployment quickly, with Tesla demonstrating a clear intent to dominate the market [4]

Company Analysis - Xtep (1368 HK) reported a slightly weaker performance in Q2 2025, but maintained its guidance for FY25, expecting overall sales growth and a net profit increase of over 10% [2][4] - The main brand of Xtep is projected to achieve mid-single-digit growth, while Saucony is expected to exceed 30% growth [2][4] - The management remains confident in achieving the annual guidance, supported by strong performance in the running category, which saw over 30% growth in professional products [4][5] Market Overview - The Chinese stock market showed mixed results, with healthcare, consumer staples, and utilities leading, while materials, energy, and financials lagged [3] - The report anticipates a volatile phase for the Chinese stock market in Q3, with weakening fundamentals in consumption and profits, but continued liquidity may lead to structural gains [3] - The US stock market saw gains led by financials, technology, and consumer staples, with TSMC's ADR hitting new highs due to strong AI chip demand [3] Retail Performance - Xtep's retail sales growth in Q2 2025 was slightly below expectations at low single digits, attributed to increased competition and weak e-commerce growth [5][6] - The company reported a healthy inventory turnover ratio of 4-4.5 months, indicating strong inventory management [6] - Retail sales growth improved in July, driven by summer demand and promotional activities, with e-commerce performance particularly strong [6] Strategic Initiatives - Xtep is progressing with its DTC (Direct-to-Consumer) transformation, planning to repurchase 100-200 stores in Q4 and 300-400 stores in FY26, with capital expenditure of approximately 400 million RMB [6] - The company is also upgrading its product and membership management systems to enhance DTC operational efficiency [6] Investment Rating - The report maintains a "Buy" rating for Xtep with a target price of HKD 7.20, based on a 14x FY25 forecast P/E ratio, which is attractive compared to the historical average of 15x [5][6]

Investment Rating - The report indicates a strong investment trend in the automotive sector, particularly in the areas of intelligent driving and humanoid robots, suggesting a bullish outlook on the ROBO+ sector [3]. Core Insights - The report highlights the launch of Geely's "Qianli Haohan" intelligent driving system, which supports L3 level autonomous driving, emphasizing the integration of AI and driving technology [1][8]. - Uber and Waymo have initiated their partnership by launching Robotaxi services in Austin, marking a significant step in autonomous ride-hailing [1][9]. - The report identifies "embodied intelligence" as a key focus area, with humanoid robots expected to become a major growth sector alongside electric vehicles over the next 5 to 20 years [2][16]. Summary by Sections Intelligent Driving - Geely's "Qianli Haohan" system aims to enhance the safety and usability of intelligent driving through advanced AI capabilities [1][8]. - Uber's collaboration with Waymo is set to provide autonomous ride-hailing services, reflecting the competitive landscape in the autonomous vehicle market [1][9]. - Hyundai has partnered with Avride to develop autonomous ride-hailing services using the Ioniq 5 model, indicating a growing trend in the deployment of autonomous vehicles [1][10]. - The supply chain for intelligent driving is expected to see explosive growth, particularly in high-performance chips, lidar, and optical components [3]. Robotics - The report notes that humanoid robots are gaining attention during the Two Sessions, with government initiatives aimed at fostering future industries, including embodied intelligence [2][16]. - The "Humanoid Robot Standardization White Paper" has been released, outlining the current state and future direction of standardization in the humanoid robot sector [2][24][25]. - The establishment of the Chengdu Robotics Industry Association aims to promote high-quality development in the robotics sector, indicating a collaborative effort to enhance the industry [2][26]. - The report emphasizes the importance of humanoid robots in various applications, with significant potential for market growth and technological advancements [2][16]. Investment Recommendations - The report suggests focusing on the ROBO+ sector, particularly in intelligent driving and humanoid robots, as these areas are expected to reshape the automotive industry [3]. - Key players in the supply chain, including Horizon Robotics in chips and leading companies in lidar and optical components, are highlighted as potential investment opportunities [3]. - The report encourages investment in companies that demonstrate strong capabilities across the five competitive factors in the automotive sector [3].