Nimble Chinese electric vehicle startups have injected competition into the EV market, challenging global leader Tesla, Inc. (NASDAQ:TSLA) on their home turf. Prominent U.S.-listed Chinese startups, including Nio, Inc. (NYSE:NIO) and Li Auto, Inc. (NASDAQ:LI), have not only survived the competition but have also demonstrated consistent delivery success.
Let’s compare these two companies across various metrics and examine their stock performance.
NIO vs. LI: A Comparative Analysis
Looking at their performance over the past year, Nio and Li Auto initially moved in sync until February when their paths diverged.
In the past year, Li Auto has outperformed Nio, achieving approximately a 41% gain compared to Nio’s nearly 49% decline.
Figure: Comparison of market price trajectory of NIO and LI over a period of one year.
Chart Courtesy Benzinga
The divergence is not without reasons. Li Auto, which prefers to keep a low profile, has been consistent with its sales performance. At the end of September, cumulative deliveries so far in 2023 reached 244,225 units. This marked an increase from the 211,015 units it delivered in the same period last year.
Nio’s year-to-date deliveries totaled 109,993 units, up from 82,434 units. Shanghai-based Nio sells high-end EVs, which potentially explains the relatively softer volumes amid an uncertain macroeconomic backdrop. Nio’s product lineup includes: Given Nio’s EVs ...