We recently compiled a list of the 8 Best EV Stocks To Buy Right Now.In this article, we are going to take a look at where Li Auto Inc. (NASDAQ:LI) stands against the other EV stocks.
After a swift rise in the EV industry over the years, we saw a slowdown in its progress, especially in Europe and the USA. Nevertheless, it is just a matter of time before the technology takes over the traditional internal combustion engines (ICE).
While the growth has been slowing in the western part of the world, China has been working tirelessly to become the global leader in the EV industry. In a podcast episode of Everything Electric Show on October 20, Ford CEO Jim Farley discussed the ongoing transformation in the automotive industry.
He noted that while EV adoption continues to grow worldwide, significant changes have occurred regarding market dynamics. He emphasized China's dominance in EV production, with 70% of global EVs manufactured there. A rapidly expanding sub-segment in China is electric vehicles with extended range (e-rev), which use a small combustion engine to power the batteries for longer trips.
This shift is reshaping global supply chains, brand preferences, and jobs, with geopolitical factors further influencing the industry's future. Farley noted that these changes have become clearer over the past year.
We also discussed the country’s dominance in our article about small-cap EV stocks to invest in. Here is an excerpt from the article:
“While the growth in the US and Europe is slowing down, China is picking up a significant pace and dominating the EV landscape. According to a World Economic Forum report, Chinese EVs are much cheaper than their Western counterparts, with an average price of $34,400, compared to $55,242 in the U.S. The price gap is driven by lower labor costs, favorable government subsidies, and more affordable battery sourcing.
The United States government acknowledges the potential of EVs in the future of mobility and is trying its best to push for its development. On July 11, the Department of Energy (DOE) announced $1.7 billion in grants aimed at converting 11 auto plants in eight states to produce electric vehicles and components.
Reuters reported on October 22 that U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm announced that the DOE is working quickly to finalize $1.7 billion in grants. The funds include $500 million for GM’s Michigan plant and $334.8 million for Stellantis’ Belvidere plant, with additional funds for the latter’s Indiana facility.
According to another Reuters report from September 23, Monroe Capital LLC announced plans to launch the Drive Forward Fund LP, aiming to raise up to $1 billion to provide loans to smaller auto suppliers transitioning from internal combustion engine vehicles to EVs.
The White House supports this initiative, emphasizing that it will offer affordable capital to help small and medium-sized auto manufacturers refinance, grow, and diversify and will benefit over 250,000 workers.
Moreover, new U.S. tariffs on Chinese EVs and stricter emissions regulations are pushing automakers to adapt their supply chains. Monroe CEO Ted Koenig highlighted the fund's importance in cultivating growth and innovation among suppliers struggling to secure financing for EV production.
Our Methodology
For this article, we identified over 30 EV manufacturers using the Finviz stocks screener and narrowed our list to 8 stocks most widely held by institutional investors. The stocks are listed in ascending order of their hedge funds which was taken from Insider Monkey’s Q2 database of 912 elite hedge funds.
Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter’s strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 275% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 150 percentage points (see more details here).
A factory worker welding a car body with precision.
Li Auto Inc. (NASDAQ:LI) is a prominent player in China's new energy vehicle market, focusing on the design, development, and manufacturing of premium smart EVs. Since it began volume production in late 2019, the company has expanded its offerings to include advanced models like the Li MEGA MPV and flagship SUVs such as the Li L9, Li L8, and Li L7. It is one of the best EV stocks to buy.
The company is also a significant player in the charging infrastructure as it operates nearly 894 supercharging stations in operation, featuring 4,286 charging stalls in China. As of September 30, it operated 479 retail stores across 145 cities, along with 436 service centers and authorized body and paint shops in 221 cities.
In collaboration with the China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC), Li Auto (NASDAQ:LI) plans to add over 2,000 charging stations and 10,000 charging columns at CNPC locations. By the end of 2024, this expansion will enable the company to reach over 90% coverage in major city centers and more than 70% along national routes.
Li Auto (NASDAQ:LI) aims to establish over 3,000 supercharging stations by 2025, which ensures comprehensive coverage of 90% along major highways and key urban areas in tier-four cities and developed regions across mainland China. The company plans to invest approximately RMB 10 billion (RMB 1= US$0.14) into this new network, which will incorporate advanced 5C charging technology, capable of delivering five full charges within an hour.
In September, Li Auto (NASDAQ:LI) delivered 53,709 vehicles, representing a 48.9% year-over-year increase. This brought the total deliveries for the third quarter to 152,831, a rise of 45.4% compared to the previous year. By the end of September, the company had delivered 341,812 vehicles for the year, contributing to cumulative deliveries of 975,176.
Xiang Li, the chairman and CEO, highlighted that with the penetration rate of new energy vehicles exceeding 50%, the leading brands have solidified their market presence.
The company captured over 17% of the NEV market for vehicles priced at RMB 200,000 and above, making it the top Chinese automotive brand in this segment. The demand for the Li L series and Li MEGA has steadily increased, which led to record deliveries in September. In October, the company is on track to achieve a significant milestone with the production and delivery of its one-millionth vehicle.
Overall LI ranks 8th on our list of the best EV stocks to buy. While we acknowledge the potential of LI as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and doing so within a shorter timeframe. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than LI but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.
