Nio cuts costs for its automobiles — and delays enterprise enlargement plans

BEIJING — Chinese language electrical automotive model Nio stated Monday it’s chopping costs for its automobiles by the equal of $4,200 efficient instantly, and ending free battery swaps for brand new consumers.

The transfer is opposite to CEO William Li’s declare in April that Nio would not join a “price war.” Tesla and different electrical automotive firms in China had lower costs earlier this yr in a bid to draw consumers.

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The worth cuts additionally comply with Li’s feedback Friday that the corporate was delaying its capital expenditure and a few analysis and growth tasks, in line with a FactSet transcript of Nio’s first-quarter earnings name.

Li stated the delay is a part of an effort to deal with the impression on money circulate from fewer automotive deliveries.

The corporate reported money and money equivalents of 14.76 billion yuan ($2.07 billion) as of March, beneath what it disclosed for the tip of 2021 and 2022.

Nio’s choice to “lower non-core tasks is just too gradual,” analysts at China Retailers Financial institution Worldwide stated in a word Monday.

“It now additionally faces a dilemma between model positioning and profitability, because it has began to chop service advantages, which might dent its model picture and thus gross sales extra severely than anticipated.”

The analysts lower their ranking on Nio shares to carry, from purchase.

Nio on Monday additionally introduced it will no longer offer battery swap services for free to new consumers.

The most recent month-to-month figures present Nio’s deliveries fell to 6,155 cars in May, down from the first-quarter common of simply over 10,000 automobiles a month. The month-to-month common within the fourth quarter was about 13,350 automobiles.

Wanting forward, Nio stated that it aimed to ship at the least 20,000 automobiles a month within the second half of the yr.

Nomura analysts stated they anticipated the automotive firm can enhance its deliveries with new fashions, just like the ES6 SUV and ET5 touring sedan.

“That stated, we count on NIO’s implied upside to be capped by intensified competitors and restricted market share enchancment in 2023F,” the analysts stated in a report.

Nomura stated it was assuming protection of Nio with a impartial ranking. Beforehand, the corporate had rated Nio at purchase.

Nio’s money and money equivalents fell beneath $1 billion on the finish of 2019. However the firm made a comeback in 2020 with a lifeline of about $1 billion from investors, including state-backed entities.

Li stated over the weekend the corporate had sufficient money to assist its enterprise.

Nonetheless, the corporate reported a pointy drop in gross margin to 1.5% within the first quarter, down from 14.6% a yr in the past and three.9% within the fourth quarter.

The Chinese language auto market is the biggest on the earth. Because of authorities subsidies and license plate restrictions, the native electrical automotive business has grown and penetration of latest power automobiles has reached about one-third of latest passenger automobiles offered. The class consists of hybrid-powered automobiles.

Earlier this month, China’s prime government physique, the State Council, stated the nation would lengthen buy incentives for brand new power automobiles as a approach to increase consumption, in line with state media. It didn’t present particulars.

“Regardless of short-term headwinds, we imagine NIO stays well-positioned with a number of upcoming ramps together with its lowest price SUV ES6, a multi-year EV adoption tailwind and market management in premium EVs in China, the biggest EV market, EU/International enlargement, and an increasing product portfolio,” analysts at Mizuho Securities stated in a word Friday.

Mizuho maintained its purchase ranking on Nio, however lowered its worth goal from $25 to $20 a share.

Nio shares are down by about 20% for the yr up to now at $7.73 a share.