<Research>CMSI Remains Positive on XPENG-W (09868.HK) Smart Driving Division, Maintains Overweight Rating
CMSI Research Report: CMSI participated in XPENG-W's second-generation VLA test drive event, showcasing stable vehicle performance across various urban conditions with participants largely achieving zero takeovers.
Market Outlook: UOB Kay Hian noted that the US-Iran conflict is driving up oil prices and accelerating the popularity of electric vehicles (EVs), with optimism surrounding XPENG's technological advancements in intelligent driving.
Future Prospects: The development of the VLA system is expected to enhance XPENG's robotics business, which is anticipated to achieve mass production this year, further boosting the company's competitiveness.
Investment Rating: CMSI maintained an Overweight rating on XPENG-W, setting target prices of $115 for H-shares and $29 for US stocks, with plans to reassess after the company's results announcement in March.
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XPENG-W's New Division: XPENG-W has established a Robotaxi division to enhance product definition, project integration, R&D testing, and operations, utilizing a first-tier organizational model for better collaboration across its resources.
Stock Performance and Short Selling: The stock is currently down by 1.606%, with short selling amounting to $263.28 million and a ratio of 20.853%.
Citi's Price Target Adjustment: Citi has reduced XPENG-W's target price to HKD100, anticipating an overall gross margin of 20% for the first quarter.
Autonomous Driving Developments: XPENG-W's flagship six-seat SUV, the XPeng GX, has begun regular L4 autonomous driving road tests and is expected to launch in the second quarter of 2026.

XPENG-W Financial Performance: XPENG-W's gross profit and EBIT surpassed expectations due to higher service income and government subsidies, despite a low delivery guidance of 61,000-66,000 units for 1Q26.
Revenue Guidance: The revenue forecast of RMB12.2-13.28 billion is above Goldman Sachs' estimates, likely driven by non-automotive income.
Investor Focus: Goldman Sachs anticipates that investors will pay attention to XPENG-W's gross margin guidance, advancements in humanoid robots and autonomous driving, and the timeline for new model launches.
Stock Rating: XPENG-W is rated as a Buy with a target price set at HKD85, while JPMorgan maintains an Overweight rating, highlighting optimism about AI deployment and the new car cycle.
Financial Performance: XPENG-W is projected to achieve a vehicle gross margin of 10.5% in Q1 2026, with an overall gross margin of around 20%, driven by improved product mix and cost control.
New Product Launches: The company plans to launch four new car models later this year, which are expected to boost sales recovery.
Profit Estimates: Excluding AI-related R&D expenses, the adjusted net profit for XPENG-W's electric vehicle business is estimated at RMB300 million for Q1 2026 and RMB5.5 billion for the full year 2026.
Target Price Adjustment: Citi has reduced its target price for XPENG-W from HKD107.8 to HKD100 while maintaining a Buy rating.

XPeng's New Robot Production: He Xiaopeng announced that XPeng's new generation IRON robot will begin mass production by the end of this year, targeting commercial, industrial, and household scenarios.
Production Base in Guangzhou: XPeng is constructing a humanoid robot mass production base in Guangzhou, aiming for a monthly output of over a thousand units by year-end.
GX Robotaxi Testing: The GX Robotaxi model, equipped with the second-generation VLA, is currently undergoing L4 public road testing, with plans for passenger demonstration operations in the second half of the year.
Market Performance: XPeng's stock has seen a decline, with a short selling ratio of approximately 20.97% and a total short selling amount of $397.73 million.

AI Investment and Development: XPENG-W's Chairman He Xiaopeng announced that the company invested RMB4.5 billion in AI-related R&D last year, establishing a comprehensive technology system for physical AI, which is expected to accelerate significantly this year.
Future R&D Plans: The company plans to increase its AI-related R&D investment to RMB7 billion in 2026, with a focus on mass production of self-developed Turing chips, aiming for an annual shipment target of 1 million units to dominate the on-device AI chip market in mainland China.
Volkswagen's New Production: Volkswagen has begun mass production of its first car model developed in collaboration with XPENG-W, aiming to re-enter the Chinese market.
New Electric Vehicle Launch: The ID. UNYX 08, a full-size electric SUV featuring autonomous driving and AI technology from XPENG-W, is set to launch in the first half of 2026.







