Li Auto Inc.

Сильный индекс, значительно упал. Оптимистичный взгляд на свои позиции резко сменился на неуверенность.

Strong index, significantly down. An optimistic view of his position suddenly changed to uncertainty.

Средний индекс, значительно вырос. Рынок не поддерживает быков.

Medium index, significantly up. The market does not support the bulls.

Сильный индекс, незначительно вырос. Отток средств из лонгов на высоком уровне.

Strong index, slightly up. Outflow of funds from longs at a high level.

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Li Auto (LI) Q2 2026 Earnings Call Transcript

Key Points
Gartner's Digital Automaker Index ranks global automakers on a range of digital technology.
It's clear advanced EV makers and the Chinese have a sizeable advantage.
Legacy automakers continue to mostly fall in rankings.
Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA) is undergoing one of the biggest evolutions in automotive industry history, and you could almost consider it outside of the auto industry looking in at this point. Its vehicles are still selling well, but they're aging and requiring more margin-eroding incentives, while its capital expenditures are set to explode as it transitions its business to include humanoid robots, artificial intelligence (AI), and its eventual robotaxi business. That said, Tesla still has a massive advantage with technology, AI, and software, highlighted in Gartner's Digital Automaker Index 2026. Here's what investors should know.
Top ranks remain
There are certainly noticeable trends within the index ranking, and Tesla's dominance still shines. The top six in the rankings remain unchanged from the prior year, and Tesla again took the No. 1 spot, improving its score from 79.3% last year to 82.7%. The next two competitors, Nio (NYSE: NIO) and Xiaomi, checked in with strong scores of 73.1% and 69.2%, respectively. Then scores drop significantly to round out the top six, represented by XPeng, Li Auto, and Rivian landing in a range of 55.5% to 57.7%.
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The trend here is that U.S. young electric vehicle (EV) makers and Chinese automakers are dominating, improving nearly across the board, and legacy automakers such as General Motors (NYSE: GM), Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F), Stellantis (NYSE: STLA), and Volkswagen all fell further behind in the rankings despite large investments in software and AI. "It shows how many automakers aren't yet prepared enough to deal with AI," Gartner Vice President of Research Pedro Pacheco told Automotive News Europe.
It isn't just a Detroit auto problem, with European and Japanese automakers also struggling to close the gap with the top-ranking EV makers that have clearly been more prepared to adopt and innovate in software-defined vehicles and AI. Mercedes-Benz was the highest-scoring European automaker, ranking 11th, while Nissan and Mazda checked in at the lowest two ranks.
What does this mean?
Gartner suggests that much of the issue is the pace of internal transformation that isn't prepared to adapt to rapid tech adoption, which puts them further behind in the race to also attract talent to improve or innovate their vehicle architecture, connected vehicles, driverless technology, and AI (four of the 10 categories producing automaker scores).
For Tesla investors, this does lend some credibility to its transition into more technology-based businesses. According to Automotive News Europe, Gartner Vice President of Research Pedro Pacheco said:
When you buy technology from a vendor then any of your competitors can do the same. But if you develop the technology in-house, you have a chance to be better than the competition and differentiate yourself.
Whether or not Tesla is a stock to consider starting a position in really comes down to what you're investing for. Tesla helped change the game with EVs, but some analysts estimate that its future robotaxi business already accounts for almost half of the company's valuation. Tesla won't be the same car company investors bought into a decade ago, and its new business plans carry greater uncertainty and risk than its legacy automotive business. Tesla has problems to solve and challenging, expensive operational transformations to work through, but despite its flaws, this index suggests the company has the capability as the lines between software and traditional vehicles blur.
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Daniel Miller has positions in Ford Motor Company and General Motors. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Tesla and Xiaomi. The Motley Fool recommends Gartner, General Motors, and Stellantis. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Despite Its Flaws, Tesla Still Dominates the World in This Index. Is the Stock a Buy Now?

The following companies are expected to report earnings prior to market open on 08/26/2026. Visit our Earnings Calendar for a full list of expected earnings releases.
Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (WSM)is reporting for the quarter ending July 31, 2026. The home furnishings company's consensus earnings per share forecast from the 8 analysts that follow the stock is $2.05. This value represents a 2.50% increase compared to the same quarter last year. In the past year WSM has beat the expectations every quarter. The highest one was in the 2nd calendar quarter where they beat the consensus by 7.22%. Zacks Investment Research reports that the 2027 Price to Earnings ratio for WSM is 25.35 vs. an industry ratio of 18.00, implying that they will have a higher earnings growth than their competitors in the same industry.
The J.M. Smucker Company (SJM)is reporting for the quarter ending July 31, 2026. The food company's consensus earnings per share forecast from the 6 analysts that follow the stock is $2.21. This value represents a 16.32% increase compared to the same quarter last year. Zacks Investment Research reports that the 2027 Price to Earnings ratio for SJM is 12.61 vs. an industry ratio of 27.10.
Dycom Industries, Inc. (DY)is reporting for the quarter ending July 31, 2026. The building company's consensus earnings per share forecast from the 4 analysts that follow the stock is $4.36. This value represents a 30.93% increase compared to the same quarter last year. In the past year DY has beat the expectations every quarter. The highest one was in the 2nd calendar quarter where they beat the consensus by 76.8%. Zacks Investment Research reports that the 2027 Price to Earnings ratio for DY is 24.66 vs. an industry ratio of 29.40.
Donaldson Company, Inc. (DCI)is reporting for the quarter ending July 31, 2026. The pollution control company's consensus earnings per share forecast from the 5 analysts that follow the stock is $1.12. This value represents a 8.74% increase compared to the same quarter last year. DCI missed the consensus earnings per share in the 1st calendar quarter of 2026 by -7.78%. Zacks Investment Research reports that the 2026 Price to Earnings ratio for DCI is 23.34 vs. an industry ratio of 1.80, implying that they will have a higher earnings growth than their competitors in the same industry.
Li Auto Inc. (LI)is reporting for the quarter ending June 30, 2026. The auto (foreign) company's consensus earnings per share forecast from the 1 analyst that follows the stock is $-0.01. This value represents a 107.14% decrease compared to the same quarter last year. Zacks Investment Research reports that the 2026 Price to Earnings ratio for LI is -104.00 vs. an industry ratio of 2.80.
Abercrombie & Fitch Company (ANF)is reporting for the quarter ending July 31, 2026. The retail (shoe) company's consensus earnings per share forecast from the 5 analysts that follow the stock is $1.95. This value represents a 15.95% decrease compared to the same quarter last year. In the past year ANF has beat the expectations every quarter. The highest one was in the 2nd calendar quarter where they beat the consensus by 16.67%. Zacks Investment Research reports that the 2027 Price to Earnings ratio for ANF is 10.55 vs. an industry ratio of 7.20, implying that they will have a higher earnings growth than their competitors in the same industry.
Bath & Body Works, Inc. (BBWI)is reporting for the quarter ending July 31, 2026. The retail company's consensus earnings per share forecast from the 8 analysts that follow the stock is $0.24. This value represents a 35.14% decrease compared to the same quarter last year. BBWI missed the consensus earnings per share in the 4th calendar quarter of 2025 by -12.5%. Zacks Investment Research reports that the 2027 Price to Earnings ratio for BBWI is 7.29 vs. an industry ratio of 23.20.
Kohl's Corporation (KSS)is reporting for the quarter ending July 31, 2026. The retail company's consensus earnings per share forecast from the 5 analysts that follow the stock is $0.55. This value represents a 1.79% decrease compared to the same quarter last year. In the past year KSS has beat the expectations every quarter. The highest one was in the 2nd calendar quarter where they beat the consensus by 27.78%. Zacks Investment Research reports that the 2027 Price to Earnings ratio for KSS is 13.26 vs. an industry ratio of 22.90.
Photronics, Inc. (PLAB)is reporting for the quarter ending July 31, 2026. The capital goods company's consensus earnings per share forecast from the 3 analysts that follow the stock is $0.40. This value represents a 21.57% decrease compared to the same quarter last year. PLAB missed the consensus earnings per share in the 2nd calendar quarter of 2026 by -20.75%. Zacks Investment Research reports that the 2026 Price to Earnings ratio for PLAB is 15.96 vs. an industry ratio of 14.90, implying that they will have a higher earnings growth than their competitors in the same industry.
SUPER HI INTERNATIONAL HOLDING LTD. (HDL)is reporting for the quarter ending June 30, 2026. The restaurant company's consensus earnings per share forecast from the 1 analyst that follows the stock is $0.03. This value represents a 90.00% decrease compared to the same quarter last year. Zacks Investment Research reports that the 2026 Price to Earnings ratio for HDL is 21.21 vs. an industry ratio of 204.50.
JinkoSolar Holding Company Limited (JKS)is reporting for the quarter ending June 30, 2026. The solar company's consensus earnings per share forecast from the 1 analyst that follows the stock is $-0.75. This value represents a 67.39% increase compared to the same quarter last year. In the past year JKS and beat the expectations the other two quarters. Zacks Investment Research reports that the 2026 Price to Earnings ratio for JKS is -5.86 vs. an industry ratio of -6.70, implying that they will have a higher earnings growth than their competitors in the same industry.
Movado Group Inc. (MOV)is reporting for the quarter ending July 31, 2026. The jewelry retail company's consensus earnings per share forecast from the 2 analysts that follow the stock is $0.36. This value represents a 56.52% increase compared to the same quarter last year. Zacks Investment Research reports that the 2027 Price to Earnings ratio for MOV is 18.57 vs. an industry ratio of 23.00.

Pre-Market Earnings Report for August 26, 2026 : WSM, SJM, DY, DCI, LI, ANF, BBWI, KSS, PLAB, HDL, JKS, MOV

Legendary investor Warren Buffett advises to be fearful when others are greedy, and be greedy when others are fearful. One way we can try to measure the level of fear in a given stock is through a technical analysis indicator called the Relative Strength Index, or RSI, which measures momentum on a scale of zero to 100. A stock is considered to be oversold if the RSI reading falls below 30.
In trading on Tuesday, shares of Li Auto Inc (Symbol: LI) entered into oversold territory, hitting an RSI reading of 29.96, after changing hands as low as $13.96 per share. By comparison, the current RSI reading of the S&P 500 ETF (SPY) is 46.3. A bullish investor could look at LI's 29.96 RSI reading today as a sign that the recent heavy selling is in the process of exhausting itself, and begin to look for entry point opportunities on the buy side. The chart below shows the one year performance of LI shares:
Looking at the chart above, LI's low point in its 52 week range is $13.96 per share, with $32.025 as the 52 week high point — that compares with a last trade of $14.11.
Further LI Research:
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Oversold Conditions For Li Auto

(RTTNews) - Li Auto Inc. (LI) reported a net loss of RMB 2.3 billion in the first quarter of 2026, compared with net income of RMB 646.6 million, a year ago. Net loss per ADS was RMB 2.26, compared with net earnings per ADS of RMB 0.62. Non-GAAP net loss was RMB 2.1 billion, compared with non-GAAP net income of RMB 1.0 billion, last year. Non-GAAP net loss per ADS was RMB 2.09, compared with non-GAAP net earnings per ADS of RMB 0.96.
First quarter total revenues were RMB 23.0 billion, a decrease of 11.4% from last year. Vehicle sales were RMB 21.5 billion, a decrease of 12.7%. Total deliveries were 95,142 vehicles, a 2.5% year-over-year increase.
For the second quarter, the company expects: deliveries of vehicles to be between 95,000 and 100,000 vehicles, and total revenues to be between RMB 24.1 billion and RMB 25.4 billion.
Li Auto shares are trading at HK$60.45, up 0.42%.
For more earnings news, earnings calendar, and earnings for stocks, visit rttnews.com.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Li Auto Posts Loss In Q1

Chinese smart electric vehicle (EV) maker Nio (NYSE:NIO) closed at $5.75, up 9.32% Wednesday. The stock moved higher after the company’s flagship ES9 SUV launched at a lower-than-expected starting price. Investors are watching upcoming ES9-driven delivery momentum as the price point signals potential worries about competition.
Trading volume reached 88.6 million shares, coming in about 110% above its three-month average of 42.2 million shares. Nio IPO'd in 2018 and has fallen 13% since going public after losing much of its 2020 momentum-driven gains.
How the markets moved today
The S&P 500 (SNPINDEX:^GSPC) inched up 0.03% to 7,521 on Wednesday, while the Nasdaq Composite (NASDAQINDEX:^IXIC) added 0.07% to finish at 26,675. Within auto manufacturers, industry peers Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) closed at $440.36 (1.56%), and Li Auto (NASDAQ:LI) ended at $15.78 (-0.63%) as investors assessed competitive EV pricing and demand.
What this means for investors
Nio surprised industry watchers by pricing its new flagship SUV below pre-sale quotes announced in April. Every model trim will be the equivalent of about $4,000 cheaper than originally thought. The three-row SUV is the largest battery-electric SUV ever produced in China.
The company is partnering with global professional basketball legend Yao Ming to promote the new offering. Rising competition could be driving the company’s aggressive pricing and advertising approach, giving investors something to monitor.
Nio announced strong delivery numbers in Q1, nearly doubling year over year. Management also predicted strong growth in Q2, giving some investors confidence to add Nio shares now.
Should you buy stock in Nio right now?
Before you buy stock in Nio, consider this:
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*Stock Advisor returns as of May 27, 2026.
Howard Smith has positions in Nio and Tesla. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Tesla. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Stock Market Today, May 27: Nio Jumps After ES9 SUV Launches at Lower Than Expected Price

The following companies are expected to report earnings prior to market open on 05/28/2026. Visit our Earnings Calendar for a full list of expected earnings releases.
Royal Bank Of Canada (RY)is reporting for the quarter ending April 30, 2026. The bank (foreign) company's consensus earnings per share forecast from the 4 analysts that follow the stock is $2.81. This value represents a 27.73% increase compared to the same quarter last year. RY missed the consensus earnings per share in the 2nd calendar quarter of 2025 by -2.22%. Zacks Investment Research reports that the 2026 Price to Earnings ratio for RY is 16.48 vs. an industry ratio of 11.40, implying that they will have a higher earnings growth than their competitors in the same industry.
Toronto Dominion Bank (TD)is reporting for the quarter ending April 30, 2026. The bank (foreign) company's consensus earnings per share forecast from the 3 analysts that follow the stock is $1.63. This value represents a 17.27% increase compared to the same quarter last year. In the past year TD has beat the expectations every quarter. The highest one was in the 1st calendar quarter where they beat the consensus by 7.98%. Zacks Investment Research reports that the 2026 Price to Earnings ratio for TD is 16.34 vs. an industry ratio of 11.40, implying that they will have a higher earnings growth than their competitors in the same industry.
Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CM)is reporting for the quarter ending April 30, 2026. The bank (foreign) company's consensus earnings per share forecast from the 3 analysts that follow the stock is $1.78. This value represents a 23.61% increase compared to the same quarter last year. In the past year CM has beat the expectations every quarter. The highest one was in the 1st calendar quarter where they beat the consensus by 14.37%. Zacks Investment Research reports that the 2026 Price to Earnings ratio for CM is 15.48 vs. an industry ratio of 11.40, implying that they will have a higher earnings growth than their competitors in the same industry.
Burlington Stores, Inc. (BURL)is reporting for the quarter ending April 30, 2026. The discount retail company's consensus earnings per share forecast from the 6 analysts that follow the stock is $1.77. This value represents a 10.63% increase compared to the same quarter last year. In the past year BURL has beat the expectations every quarter. The highest one was in the 1st calendar quarter where they beat the consensus by 4.04%. Zacks Investment Research reports that the 2027 Price to Earnings ratio for BURL is 28.90 vs. an industry ratio of 26.10, implying that they will have a higher earnings growth than their competitors in the same industry.
Dollar Tree, Inc. (DLTR)is reporting for the quarter ending April 30, 2026. The discount retail company's consensus earnings per share forecast from the 10 analysts that follow the stock is $1.53. This value represents a 21.43% increase compared to the same quarter last year. In the past year DLTR has beat the expectations every quarter. The highest one was in the 1st calendar quarter where they beat the consensus by 1.19%. Zacks Investment Research reports that the 2027 Price to Earnings ratio for DLTR is 13.92 vs. an industry ratio of 26.10.
Li Auto Inc. (LI)is reporting for the quarter ending March 31, 2026. The auto (foreign) company's consensus earnings per share forecast from the 1 analyst that follows the stock is $0.00. This value represents a 100.00% decrease compared to the same quarter last year. The last two quarters LI had negative earnings surprises; the latest report they missed by -100%. Zacks Investment Research reports that the 2026 Price to Earnings ratio for LI is 132.33 vs. an industry ratio of 19.50, implying that they will have a higher earnings growth than their competitors in the same industry.
Best Buy Co., Inc. (BBY)is reporting for the quarter ending April 30, 2026. The retail company's consensus earnings per share forecast from the 11 analysts that follow the stock is $1.22. This value represents a 6.09% increase compared to the same quarter last year. In the past year BBY has beat the expectations every quarter. The highest one was in the 1st calendar quarter where they beat the consensus by 5.24%. Zacks Investment Research reports that the 2027 Price to Earnings ratio for BBY is 9.73 vs. an industry ratio of 9.70, implying that they will have a higher earnings growth than their competitors in the same industry.
Hormel Foods Corporation (HRL)is reporting for the quarter ending April 30, 2026. The meat product company's consensus earnings per share forecast from the 5 analysts that follow the stock is $0.35. This value represents a no change for the same quarter last year. HRL missed the consensus earnings per share in the 3rd calendar quarter of 2025 by -14.63%. Zacks Investment Research reports that the 2026 Price to Earnings ratio for HRL is 14.82 vs. an industry ratio of 10.20, implying that they will have a higher earnings growth than their competitors in the same industry.
ATS Corporation (ATS)is reporting for the quarter ending March 31, 2026. The machinery company's consensus earnings per share forecast from the 2 analysts that follow the stock is $0.31. This value represents a 10.71% increase compared to the same quarter last year. In the past year ATS has beat the expectations every quarter. The highest one was in the 4th calendar quarter where they beat the consensus by 13.33%. Zacks Investment Research reports that the 2026 Price to Earnings ratio for ATS is 27.32 vs. an industry ratio of 5.70, implying that they will have a higher earnings growth than their competitors in the same industry.
Photronics, Inc. (PLAB)is reporting for the quarter ending April 30, 2026. The capital goods company's consensus earnings per share forecast from the 2 analysts that follow the stock is $0.53. This value represents a 32.50% increase compared to the same quarter last year. PLAB missed the consensus earnings per share in the 2nd calendar quarter of 2025 by -16.67%. Zacks Investment Research reports that the 2026 Price to Earnings ratio for PLAB is 23.17 vs. an industry ratio of 18.10, implying that they will have a higher earnings growth than their competitors in the same industry.
BRP Inc. (DOO)is reporting for the quarter ending April 30, 2026. The auto (truck) company's consensus earnings per share forecast from the 4 analysts that follow the stock is $0.75. This value represents a 127.27% increase compared to the same quarter last year. In the past year DOO has beat the expectations every quarter. The highest one was in the 1st calendar quarter where they beat the consensus by 6.71%. Zacks Investment Research reports that the 2027 Price to Earnings ratio for DOO is 27.26 vs. an industry ratio of 6.00, implying that they will have a higher earnings growth than their competitors in the same industry.
Kohl's Corporation (KSS)is reporting for the quarter ending April 30, 2026. The retail company's consensus earnings per share forecast from the 5 analysts that follow the stock is $-0.18. This value represents a 38.46% decrease compared to the same quarter last year. In the past year KSS has beat the expectations every quarter. The highest one was in the 1st calendar quarter where they beat the consensus by 25.88%. Zacks Investment Research reports that the 2027 Price to Earnings ratio for KSS is 10.15 vs. an industry ratio of 21.40.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Pre-Market Earnings Report for May 28, 2026 : RY, TD, CM, BURL, DLTR, LI, BBY, HRL, ATS, PLAB, DOO, KSS

Chinese electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer Nio (NYSE:NIO) closed Thursday at $5.60, up 0.18%. The stock swung as traders reacted to Q1 2026 results showing surging revenue, improved margins, and a return to adjusted profitability. Ongoing net losses and updated delivery guidance have investors split on whether the company is at an inflection point.
Trading volume reached 96.1 million shares, coming in about 139% above its three-month average of 40.2 million shares. Nio IPO'd in 2018 and has fallen 16% since going public.
How the markets moved today
S&P 500 (SNPINDEX:^GSPC) inched up 0.18% to 7,446, while the Nasdaq Composite (NASDAQINDEX:^IXIC) added 0.09% to finish at 26,293. Within auto manufacturers, industry peers Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) closed at $417.85 (up 0.14%) and Li Auto (NASDAQ:LI) finished at $16.20 (up 0.12%) as investors assessed EV demand and new models.
What this means for investors
Nio shares initially spiked after its Q1 report showed revenue more than doubled year over year, gross margin continued to rise, and management guided for much higher second-quarter EV deliveries.
Nio delivered about 83,500 vehicles in the first quarter, but expects between 110,000 and 115,000 for Q2. That gave the stock early momentum, but gains were pared as investors considered its $45 million loss from operations. That was a decline from the approximately $100 million profit the company reported in the fourth quarter of 2025. Adjusted profit, excluding stock-based compensation, remained positive, however.
Investor focus will remain on that and the companies rising gross margin to see if it can achieve consistent profitability. Nio stock won’t likely break out unless that occurs.
Should you buy stock in Nio right now?
Before you buy stock in Nio, consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Nio wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.
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*Stock Advisor returns as of May 21, 2026.
Howard Smith has positions in Nio and Tesla. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Tesla. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Stock Market Today, May 21: Nio Stock Pared Early Gains After Revenue Surges and Adjusted Profit Returns

China’s auto market has entered 2026 on a softer footing after a strong run in the previous year. After vehicle sales and production in China hit record highs in 2025, with both metrics exceeding 30 million units for the third straight year, first-quarter 2026 vehicle sales in the country witnessed double-digit declines. Demand lost momentum across both electric and traditional vehicle segments. Seasonal disruptions and policy adjustments weighed on buying activity, while broader cost pressures added to the cautious sentiment.
Q1 and March Sales Decline Sharply
China’s retail passenger vehicle sales declined more than 17% year over year, with total vehicle sales falling to about 4.23 million units in the first quarter of 2026, per CPCA, as cited in Yicai Global. The weakness was even more pronounced in the NEV segment. NEV sales dropped 21% year over year to roughly 1.91 million units in the quarter, reflecting the impact of reduced policy support. March data showed a similar trend. Retail car sales fell around 15% year over year to nearly 1.65 million units. NEV sales declined more than 14% to approximately 848,000 units during the month.
What Led to the Slowdown?
One key factor was a shift in the Chinese New Year holiday. The holiday fell in late February, which pushed the typical post-holiday demand recovery into March. As a result, both February and early March saw weaker-than-usual sales activity, distorting year-over-year comparisons.
Policy changes also played a major role. The government scaled back incentives for NEVs, removing the full purchase tax exemption from this year onward. This led to a drop in demand as consumers adjusted to higher upfront costs, particularly affecting EV sales momentum.
At the same time, automakers are dealing with rising input costs. Prices for semiconductors, memory chips and non-ferrous metals have surged, partly driven by global demand linked to the artificial intelligence boom. In addition, higher international oil prices amid geopolitical tensions have increased both production and ownership costs.
These pressures have hit the internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle segment particularly hard, as higher fuel costs and weaker consumer sentiment further dampened demand.
Exports Emerge as a Bright Spot
While domestic demand remained weak, exports offered a strong offset, led by continued momentum in NEVs.
Passenger car exports jumped 74% year over year in March to about 695,000 units. NEV exports surged 140% to roughly 349,000 units, making up more than half of total shipments, up from 36% a year ago. The strength extended to the first quarter, with NEV exports rising 123.7% to around 908,000 units, reflecting solid overseas demand for Chinese EVs.
BYD Co Ltd BYDDY led the push, exporting 116,882 NEVs in March and recently raising its 2026 export target to 1.5 million vehicles.
Q1 Delivery Snapshot: Mixed Trends Across Key EV Players
China’s leading EV makers reported a mixed set of delivery numbers for the first quarter.
BYD remained the volume leader, selling 695,772 new energy passenger vehicles globally in the quarter. However, this marked a 30% decline year over year, with pure EV sales also falling 25% to 310,389 units.
In contrast, NIO Inc. NIO stood out with strong growth. The company delivered 83,465 vehicles in Q1, up 98.3% from a year earlier, exceeding its guidance range of 80,000-83,000 units. The performance of NIO’s close peers was more subdued. XPeng Inc. XPEV reported deliveries of 62,682 units, down from 94,008 vehicles in the year-ago period. Meanwhile, Li Auto Inc. LI posted 95,142 deliveries, reflecting only a modest increase from 92,864 units last year.
BYD stock carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell), XPEV and LI carry a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) each, and NIO currently has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
The Road Ahead
Overall, China’s auto market is facing a near-term reset, with demand likely to stabilize only after seasonal effects fade and consumers adjust to the new policy and cost environment. CPCA expects a gradual pickup from this month as post-holiday activity normalizes. While the second quarter may still remain soft, the market is expected to find its footing thereafter and return to growth in the second half of the year.
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The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

China Auto Sales Lose Steam in Q1, Exports Ease the Blow

Chinese electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer, Nio (NYSE:NIO) closed Thursday at $6.07, down 4.86%. Shares declined after the launch of its flagship ES9 SUV, and investors will be watching to see how the model is received in the competitive EV market.
Trading volume reached 68.5 million shares, coming in about 52% above its three-month average of 45.2 million shares. Nio IPO'd in 2018 and has gained 1% since going public.
How the markets moved today
The S&P 500 (SNPINDEX:^GSPC) added 0.62% to finish Thursday at 6,825, while the Nasdaq Composite (NASDAQINDEX:^IXIC) rose 0.83% to close at 22,822. Among electric vehicle manufacturers, industry peers Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) closed at $345.62, up 0.69%, and Li Auto (NASDAQ:LI) ended at $18.29, down 1.83%, underscoring mixed sentiment toward EV names.
What this means for investors
Nio shares rose in early trading before tumbling as investors weighed the launch of its new ES9 SUV, which it says is the largest fully electric SUV in China. The stock is up 27% in the past month, reflecting optimism about the launch, and today’s drop could reflect profit-taking rather than a lack of confidence in the new vehicle.
Nio’s recent rally follows record deliveries in Q4 2025, with continued sales growth expected in 2026. Investors will be watching delivery updates and debt levels in the run-up to its June Q1 results to better understand how sustainable its growth trajectory may be.
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Emma Newbery has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Tesla. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.