Li Auto Q1 revenue down 38.6% from Q4

Li Auto reported revenue of RMB 25.6 billion (USD3.6 billion) for the first quarter, up 36.44% year-on-year but down 38.58% from the fourth quarter last year.

Its net profit for the first quarter was RMB 591.1 million, down 36.7% year-on-year and down 89.7% from the fourth quarter last year.

Vehicle sales were RMB24.3 billion (USD3.4 billion) in the first quarter of 2024, representing an increase of 32.3% from RMB18.3 billion in the first quarter of 2023 and a decrease of 39.9% from RMB40.4 billion in the fourth quarter of 2023.

Vehicle margin was 19.3% in the first quarter of 2024, compared with 19.8% in the first quarter of 2023 and 22.7% in the fourth quarter of 2023.

Total revenues were RMB25.6 billion (USD3.6 billion) in the first quarter of 2024, representing an increase of 36.4% from RMB18.8 billion in the first quarter of 2023 and a decrease of 38.6% from RMB41.7 billion in the fourth quarter of 2023.

Gross profit was RMB5.3 billion (USD731.9 million) in the first quarter of 2024, representing an increase of 38.0% from RMB3.8 billion in the first quarter of 2023 and a decrease of 46.0% from RMB9.8 billion in the fourth quarter of 2023.

Gross margin was 20.6% in the first quarter of 2024, compared with 20.4% in the first quarter of 2023 and 23.5% in the fourth quarter of 2023.

Operating expenses were RMB5.9 billion (USD812.9 million) in the first quarter of 2024, representing an increase of 71.4% from RMB3.4 billion in the first quarter of 2023 and a decrease of 13.1% from RMB6.8 billion in the fourth quarter of 2023.

Loss from operations was RMB584.9 million (US$81.0 million) in the first quarter of 2024, compared with RMB405.2 million income from operations in the first quarter of 2023 and RMB3.0 billion income from operations in the fourth quarter of 2023.

Operating margin was negative 2.3% in the first quarter of 2024, compared with 2.2% in the first quarter of 2023 and 7.3% in the fourth quarter of 2023.

Net income was RMB591.1 million (USD81.9 million) in the first quarter of 2024, representing a decrease of 36.7% from RMB933.8 million in the first quarter of 2023 and a decrease of 89.7% from RMB5.8 billion in the fourth quarter of 2023. Non-GAAP net income3 was RMB1.3 billion (USD176.8 million) in the first quarter of 2024, representing a decrease of 9.7% from RMB1.4 billion in the first quarter of 2023 and a decrease of 72.2% from RMB4.6 billion in the fourth quarter of 2023.

Diluted net earnings per ADS4 attributable to ordinary shareholders was RMB0.56 (USD0.08) in the first quarter of 2024, compared with RMB0.89 in the first quarter of 2023 and RMB5.32 in the fourth quarter of 2023. Non-GAAP diluted net earnings per ADS attributable to ordinary shareholders was RMB1.21 (US$0.17) in the first quarter of 2024, compared with RMB1.35 in the first quarter of 2023 and RMB4.23 in the fourth quarter of 2023.

Net cash used in operating activities was RMB3.3 billion (USD462.9 million) in the first quarter of 2024, compared with RMB7.8 billion net cash provided by operating activities in the first quarter of 2023 and RMB17.3 billion net cash provided by operating activities in the fourth quarter of 2023.

Free cash flow was negative RMB5.1 billion (USD700.1 million) in the first quarter of 2024, compared with RMB6.7 billion in the first quarter of 2023 and RMB14.6 billion in the fourth quarter of 2023.

For the second quarter of 2024, the Company expects:

Deliveries of vehicles to be between 105,000 and 110,000 vehicles, representing an increase of 21.3% to 27.1% from the second quarter of 2023.

Total revenues to be between RMB29.9 billion (USD4.1 billion) and RMB31.4 billion (USD4.3 billion), representing an increase of 4.2% to 9.4% from the second quarter of 2023.