Li Auto reports Q2 adjusted EPS 20c, consensus 19c

Reports Q2 revenue $4.4B, consensus $4.42B. Quarterly deliveries reached 108,581 vehicles. Xiang Li, chairman and CEO of Li Auto, commented, “Since the second quarter, Li Auto has emerged as the sales champion of Chinese automotive brands in the RMB200,000 and above NEV market amid intense competition, driven by segment leadership across all Li Auto models and enhanced store efficiency. Our second-quarter deliveries exceeded 108,000 vehicles, increasing by 25.5% year over year, a strong testament to our product strength and the effectiveness of our recalibrated operating strategy. In June 2024, we surpassed the 800,000-vehicle milestone in cumulative deliveries, making history for Chinese premium automotive brands. In addition to our strong sales results, we made substantial progress in autonomous driving. In July, we rolled out our high-definition map-independent NOA with nationwide coverage to over 240,000 Li AD Max users and launched our next-generation autonomous driving technological architecture that integrates an E2E model and a VLM. We will relentlessly pursue innovation and excellence to solidify our position as a preferred premium automotive brand for Chinese families, providing our users with products and services that exceed their expectations, and creating happiness for families.” Tie Li, CFO of Li Auto, added, “Amid intense market competition during the second quarter, we focused on creating user value and improving operating efficiency. Our solid second-quarter deliveries drove revenues to increase 10.6% year over year to RMB31.7 billion. Despite the impact from ramping up a new model, our gross margin remained healthy at 19.5%. As Li L6 production stabilizes and our cost reduction and efficiency enhancement measures take full effect, we expect an increase in both our margins and cash flow in the second half of the year. Looking ahead, we are committed to investing in technological and product advancements to drive steady business growth, while simultaneously optimizing our cost structure.”