NIO, Li Auto's Shares Rise Before New Model Releases

By Jiahui Huang

Shares of NIO and Li Auto rose sharply in Hong Kong as investors anticipate the Chinese automakers' new model releases this week.

Investor sentiment surrounding Chinese electric vehicle makers have been recently improved by new models and new technology. Higher energy prices owing to the conflict in the Middle East have also fueled interest in EVs.

NIO and Li Auto are due to launch new models Friday.

NIO's Onvo L80 is a five-seat sport utility full electric vehicle with a pre-sale prices 245,800 yuan, equivalent to $36,215.76. Li Auto's L9 Livis is a six-seat hybrid SUV with a pre-sale price starting at 559,800 yuan.

NIO's shares rose 4.4% and Li Auto's shares gained 6.5% in early Hong Kong trade by midday Thursday.

Demand in China's local auto market has languished in recent months. This week's two new models are raising hopes that more buyers will be attracted to the range of new products with advanced autonomous driving assistance technology.

The halving of EV purchase tax exemptions, lower replacement subsidies and a increased adoption to slower but still structurally healthy growth for China's EV sector, said HSBC Global Research analysts in a recent note.

Investors have shifted their focus to overseas markets given low expectations for the domestic market, Daiwa analyst Kelvin Lau wrote in a note.

China exported more electric vehicles and plug-in vehicles than gasoline or diesel cars for the first time in April.

China exported 769,000 automobiles in April, with new-energy vehicles, a term that includes EVs and plug-in hybrids, accounting for 52.7% of total exports, the China Passenger Car Association said Monday.

Write to Jiahui Huang at jiahui.huang@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

May 14, 2026 00:46 ET (04:46 GMT)