25th Aug 2023
Market capitalization (market cap) is a critical metric used to assess investment opportunities, providing insights into a company’s size, stability, and growth potential. By multiplying a company’s outstanding shares by the current market price of one share, market cap offers a glimpse into its market presence, influence, and future earnings potential.
Comparing the relative sizes of different companies, especially in the electric vehicle (EV) industry, is essential for investors seeking to make informed portfolio allocation decisions 1. As of June 2023, these five prominent electric vehicle manufacturers exhibit varying financial performances, reflecting their unique market positions, strategic decisions, and challenges.
Tesla (USA): $790.31 billion
Tesla’s market capitalization has grown substantially due to its success in the electric vehicle (EV) market. As an industry pioneer, Tesla’s innovative products and strong brand have enabled it to secure a significant market share. The company’s market cap has been bolstered by investor enthusiasm and high expectations for its future growth.
Despite a more than 130% increase in share prices this year, Tesla’s stock remains below its record highs in 2021. During that time, Tesla experienced an impressive surge, surpassing a market capitalization of $1.2 trillion and establishing itself as one of the world’s most valuable companies2.
Li Auto (China): $34.59 billion
Li Auto, a prominent player in China’s new energy vehicle market, holds a favorable position to capitalize on the increasing demand for smart electric SUVs. The company has specialized in hybrid electric vehicles known as “EREVs” (extended range EVs), which have achieved remarkable success in China 3.
The company reported delivering more than double the number of cars in May compared to the previous year, with deliveries exceeding 20,000 vehicles for the third consecutive month. In May alone, Li Auto delivered 28,277 vehicles, marking a notable 146% year-on-year increase 4.
Rivian (USA): $13.6 billion
Rivian, a newer player in the market, specializes in electric trucks and SUVs, with Amazon as its top investor. Despite initial setbacks post-IPO, the company has experienced rapid growth in reservation numbers. Known for their innovative technology and design, Rivian’s vehicles are highly regarded for their performance, range, and off-road capabilities, appealing to adventure-seeking customers.
The company’s unique value proposition has attracted significant attention from investors and consumers. Despite supply challenges, Rivian aims to achieve an ambitious production target of one million vehicles per year by 2030, driving remarkable compound annual growth and propelling its market capitalization to new heights 5.
NIO (China): $16.31 billion
NIO, a Chinese company, primarily focuses on designing, developing, manufacturing, and selling high-end smart electric vehicles. Although NIO experienced a remarkable surge of approximately 800% in late 2020 and early 2021, subsequent years have seen a decline due to regulatory pressures and inconsistent production numbers, presenting recent challenges 6.
However, NIO has secured a noteworthy $738.5 million investment from Abu Dhabi’s CYVN Holdings, indicating its intention to enter the United Arab Emirates (UAE) market and setting the stage for global competition in the EV industry. This significant investment arrives at a strategic time for NIO, providing vital financial support needed for its global expansion plans 7.
Lucid Motors (USA): $12.19 billion
Lucid Motors, renowned for its luxury electric vehicles, has showcased immense potential through its advanced battery technology, as exemplified by the fastest-charging car on the market, the Lucid Air. The company has announced plans to generate around $3 billion through a stock offering, with nearly two-thirds coming from the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund (PIF). Lucid Motors is building its first overseas production factory in Saudi Arabia, with the government committing to purchasing up to 100,000 Lucid vehicles over the next decade 8.
Lucid Group shares surged recently following news of a supply deal with Aston Martin Lagonda and collaboration in developing luxury electric vehicles. This strategic partnership is expected to foster innovation and shape the future of sustainable transportation 9
The future of these top players
Each of these company’s future success largely depends on how they navigate the challenges and seize the opportunities in the EV investment market. Given their recent financial performance, Tesla seems well positioned for continued growth and profitability. In contrast, Rivian, Li Auto, and NIO will need to work towards profitability while continuing to grow sales.
Chinese manufacturers Li Auto and NIO also face the challenge of expanding beyond the Chinese market to achieve global scale. Their success will depend on their ability to produce vehicles that meet international safety and quality standards while also appealing to consumers outside China.
Lucid Motors, despite being the newest player, has the potential to become a serious competitor given its advanced technology and market demand. However, much will depend on its ability to scale production and maintain quality, as well as on its recent financial performance, which unfortunately could not be verified.
While market cap is an important factor in investment decisions, it is just one of many factors to consider. It’s also essential to evaluate a company’s financial performance, strategic position, and future growth prospects when making investment decisions.
This is not a buy, sell or hold recommendation for any particular security.
1 https://www.investopedia.com/terms/m/marketcapitalization.asp
2 https://www.fool.com/investing/2023/06/15/is-tesla-headed-back-to-trillion-dollar-market/
3 https://www.investors.com/news/li-stock-li-auto-first-all-electric-vehicles-loom/#:~:text=Moving forward%2C Li Auto said,to accelerate on autonomous driving.
4 https://insightssuccess.com/car-deliveries-according-to-chinese-ev-company-li-auto-more-than-quadrupled-in-may/
5 https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/will-rivian-automotive-be-a-trillion-dollar-stock-by-2030
6 https://www.fool.com/investing/2023/06/27/is-nio-stock-following-in-teslas-footsteps/?source=eptyholnk0000202&utm_source=yahoo-host&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=article
7 https://finance.yahoo.com/news/ev-roundup-nio-raises-more-135800663.html
8 https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/lucid-talks-raise-about-3-bln-including-saudis-pif-bloomberg-news-2023-05-31/
9 https://www.wsj.com/livecoverage/stock-market-today-dow-jones-06-26-2023/card/lucid-stock-jumps-on-aston-martin-supply-deal-1HhcEjuGWHaO3hYFeUCA?siteid=yhoof2′
