During NIO's second-quarter earnings call, founder, chairman, and CEO Li Bin responded to post-earnings stock price fluctuations, asserting that "capital market pricing is a market price reflecting a mix of factors. Our market cap was high in 2021, but the company is undoubtedly healthier now, and the automotive sector remains somewhat undervalued."
Li Bin argued that the current AI craze has delivered a "triple blow" to the auto industry: "First is the supply chain, where AI's insatiable demand for computing power has led to shortages of key materials from PCBs and copper to batteries; second is talent, as the embodied intelligence sector attracts massive capital inflows, with numerous startups valued at billions with teams of just dozens, creating a significant brain drain in tech; third is capital, as market attention has been heavily diverted." He emphasized, "This isn't due to a lack of imagination in our products or services, but rather a lack of imagination about the nature of our business. At our core, we are an energy company and an AI company, yet we must also adhere to the objective laws of manufacturing. It's hard to convince investors; we can only do so through operating results."
Li Bin believes the market is underestimating NIO Inc. (NIO) on multiple fronts. "First is technology; our full-stack self-developed capabilities and AI strength are far from fully recognized. Second is the scarcity of our brand assets. Third is our energy business, whose strategic value and earnings potential are also overlooked. Additionally, our services and community operations have long been undervalued; last year, this segment generated over 10 billion yuan in revenue, and it has sustained growth and profitability through the first and second quarters of this year. We expect continued stable growth for the full year, representing a reliable income stream based on our existing user base."
As for how long it will take the capital markets to reassess the company, he remarked, "That's not something we can dictate. What we can do is stay focused on our own work, continue investing in our brand, and maintain our strategic commitment to long-termism."