China Automotive Systems, Inc.

Greetings. Welcome to the China Automotive System's fourth quarter and fiscal year 2023 conference call. At this time, all participants are in a listen-only mode. A question and answer session will follow the formal presentation. If you would like to ask a question, please press star 1 at any time during the conference. If anyone should require operator assistance, please press star 0 on your telephone keypad. Please note this conference is being recorded. I will now turn the conference over to your host, Kevin Cease. You may begin.

Thank you, everyone, for joining us today. Welcome to China Automotive Systems' 2023 Fourth Quarter and Year Conference Call. Joining us today are Mr. Jay Lee, Chief Financial Officer of China Automotive Systems. He will be available to answer questions later in the conference call with the assistance of translation. Before we begin, I will remind all listeners that throughout this call, we may make statements that may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements represent the company's estimates and assumptions only as of the date of this call. As a result, the company's actual results could differ materially from those contained in these forward-looking statements due to a number of factors including those described under the heading Risk Sectors and Results of Operations in the company's Form 10-K Annual Report for the year ended December 31, 2023, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and in other documents filed by the company from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Any of these factors and other factors beyond our control could have an adverse impact on the overall business environment cause uncertainties in the region where we conduct business, cause our business to suffer in ways that we cannot predict, and materially and adversely impact our business, financial condition, and results of operations. A prolonged disruption or any unforeseen delay in our operations of the manufacturing, delivery, and assembly processes within any of our production facilities could result in delays in the shipment of products to our customers, increase costs, and reduce revenue. The company expressly disdains any duty to provide updates to any forward-looking statements made in this call, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. On this call, I'll provide a brief overview and summary of the fourth quarter and yearly results for the period ended December 31, 2023. Management will then conduct a question-and-answer session. The 2023 fourth quarter results are unaudited. The year results are audited. Financial results are reported in U.S. GAAP accounting. For the purposes of our call today, I'll review the financial results in U.S. dollars. We'll begin with a review of some of the company's highlights, recent dynamics of the Chinese economy and automobile industry, and our market position. We are pleased to report that 2023 achieved record net sales of $576.4 million. Our gross margin rose to 18%. Operating income was 390% higher and diluted net income per share increased by 81.2% to $1.25 per share. We ended the 2023 year on a high note with the fourth quarter results achieving the largest quarterly net sales of 2023 at $159.2 million, the largest quarterly percentage sales gain at 23.6% year over year, for 2023, and highest quarterly net income attributable to the parent company's common shareholders at $10.9 million during the year. We accomplished these in an unsettled economy in China. The Chinese GDP growth rate accelerated to approximately 5.2% in 2023, up to 3% growth in 2022. which period partially affected the lingering effects of post-COVID-19 recovery. According to statistics from the Chinese Association of Automobile Manufacturers, CAAM, passenger automobile unit sales in China for the fourth quarter of 2023 included a growth of 11.4% year-over-year in October, an increase of 25.3% year-over-year in November, and a rise of 23.3% year-over-year in December. Commercial vehicle unit sales during the fourth quarter of 2020 reflected an increase of 33.4% in October, followed by a 44.6% year-over-year rise in November and a 25.1% year-over-year increase in December. Our 2023 fourth quarter operating income from operations climbed to $13.6 million due to gross margin rising to 21.8% as the product mix changed, and operating expenses declined by 12.4% year-over-year. An increase in efficiency led to reduced selling, G&A, and R&D expenses in the fourth quarter of 2023. Diluted income per share rose by 157.1% to 36 cents compared to 14 cents in the fourth quarter of 2022. For 2023, CAAM reported passenger vehicle sales rose by 10.6% year-over-year, and commercial vehicle sales increased by 22.1% year-over-year. Our 2023 net sales increased by 8.8% in 2023 due to greater demand for Chinese passenger vehicles, and a 22.9% year-over-year growth in net sales in Brazil, with higher sales to Stellantis. Sales in North America declined by 18.5% year-over-year to $115.9 million. In 2023, partially reflecting the impact of the autoworker strike in North America as production began to ramp up in the fourth quarter of 2023. Net sales of traditional steering products and parts were $381.6 million, up 2.2% year-over-year. Net sales of electric power steering EPS grew by 24.6% year-over-year to $194.8 million, an increase as a percentage of sales to 33.8% in 2023. Net product sales of other entities rose by 20.7% year-over-year to $112.1 million, primarily due to higher sales by Wuhang Gilong, our producer of steering columns. Our sales into the commercial vehicle market were essentially flat in 2023, partially due to reduced demand in certain market segments. As a percentage of total sales, domestic Chinese sales increased to 65.1% of our total sales in 2023. Sales in the United States declined to 19.3%, and other exports markets increased to 15.6% of our total sales domestically. Key customers included BYD, the largest EV producer in China, Dongfeng Auto Group, Beke Photon Motor Corp. And we are developing C-EPS, VP-EPS, and R-EPS products for BYD, in addition to supplying traditional steering products. We are also working on new products for other current customers with potential new customers, including other automobile OEMs, and emerging technology companies entering the NEV space. The high performance and quality of our products has spurred our growth in markets beyond China. In North America, customers include Jeep, Ram, and Ford. In South America, Stellantis and Cherry Auto's Brazilian operations are our primary customers. Mahindra & Mahindra is a large customer in the Indian automobile market. Our products are also beginning to penetrate the European market with companies such as Alfa Romeo, Scania AB, and through our subsidiary Sympion AB, a Swedish automotive technology company. Excuse me. For 2023, we reduced our R&D by 19.1%, primarily due to the maturing of current new product development and less activity for additional new product development for the traditional products. Our product portfolio includes integral rack and pinion steering, high pressure power steering, electric power steering, advanced driver assistance systems, ADAS, automotive electronics, intelligent automotive technologies, automotive motors, and electromechanical integrated systems, vehicle software and motion controls, high polymer materials, as well as developing new cost-saving manufacturing processes. We collaborate with our OEM customers to advance our technology base and develop products to meet their specific performance and quality requirements. Our expanded series of EPS products have gained greater market reception. Our change in sales mix has improved our margins. We look forward to our ADAS products gaining greater commercial acceptance in the future. There are several trends that act as growth catalysts for our future sales. First, the Chinese automobile market is already the world's largest single market, and Chinese branded vehicles are gaining market share from Western-based JVs in the domestic market. Second, China is also the world's leading EV market, with 37.9% unit growth in 2023 in China, including 24.3% unit growth in battery-powered electric passenger vehicles. It's important to note that most Chinese EV operators have been self-developed without foreign participation. In China, there are standalone EV producers, traditional OEMs with both internal combustion engines and EVs, and high-tech companies that have entered into the EV marketplace. These tech companies are differentiating themselves by adding more technology and features, including advanced steering such as our ADAS systems. However, to capture more market share, Chinese OEMs are building lower-priced EVs to attract more buyers. With a wider price range, EV producers are better able to compete with internal combustion engine vehicles on a price basis. Chinese EVs are beginning to benefit from a growing economy of scale and strengthening EV supply chains, thus providing an advantage in global markets. In 2023, CAAM statistics show that Chinese automobile unit exports jumped by 57.8% year over year. And recently, Chinese auto exports surpassed Japan to become the global automobile export leader. Chinese exports were mostly internal combustion engine vehicles in 2023, but China has also become the largest exporter of EVs as well. While EV exports are smaller in number, the emergence of more affordable EV models will enhance Chinese EV export unit sales. especially in more advanced car markets, which are preparing to transition away from internal combustion engines. Increased competition among Chinese vehicle OEMs, greater access to overseas markets, and more vehicle models creates greater growth opportunity as we are a leading developer and producer of steering systems to Chinese branded vehicles. Let me review the financial results in the fourth quarter of 2023. In the fourth quarter of 2023, net sales increased by 23.6% to $159.2 million compared to $128.8 million same quarter of 2022. The net sales increase was mainly due to a change in the product mix and higher demand for passenger automobiles and commercial vehicles in the fourth quarter of 2023 compared to the fourth quarter of 2022. Gross profit increased by 38.8%. to $34.7 million in the fourth quarter of 2023 compared to $25 million in the fourth quarter of 2022. Gross margin in the fourth quarter of 2023 was 21.8% compared to 19.4% in the fourth quarter of 2022, primarily due to a change in product mix. Selling expenses were $4.6 million in the fourth quarter of 2023, which is stable compared with $4.6 million in the fourth quarter of 2022. Selling expenses represented 2.9% of net sales in the fourth quarter of 2023, compared to 3.6% in the fourth quarter of 2022. General administrative expenses, G&A, were $9.4 million in the fourth quarter of 2023, compared to $10.8 million in the same period in 2022. G&A expenses represented 5.9% of net sales in the fourth quarter of 2023 compared to 8.4% of net sales in the fourth quarter of 2022. Research and development expenses, R&D, were $9.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2023 compared to $10.6 million in the fourth quarter of 2022. R&D expenses represented 5.8% of net sales in the fourth quarter of 2023 compared to 8.2% in the fourth quarter of 2022. mainly due to a decrease in new product development expenses for the traditional products. Operating income was $13.6 million in the fourth quarter of 2023, compared to a loss from operations of $2.6 million in the fourth quarter of 2022. Higher operating income was primarily due to increased gross profit and lower operating expenses in 2023, fourth quarter, compared with the same period last year. Interest expense was $0.3 million in both the fourth quarter of 2023 and 2022. Financial income was $1 million in the fourth quarter of 2023 compared to $1.4 million in the fourth quarter of 2022 due to lower foreign exchange gains. Income for income tax expenses and equity in earnings of affiliated companies was $15 million in the fourth quarter of 2023 compared to a loss of $2.7 million in the fourth quarter of 2022. Income tax expense was $2.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2023, compared to an income benefit of $1.9 million in the fourth quarter of 2022. Net income attributable to the parent company's common shareholders rose by 153.5% to $10.9 million in the fourth quarter of 2023, compared to net income attributable to parent companies' common shareholders of $4.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2022. Diluted income per share was $0.36 in the fourth quarter of 2023 compared to $0.14 in the fourth quarter of 2022. The weighted average number of diluted common shares outstanding was $30,189,421 fourth quarter of 2023 compared with $30,229,987 in the fourth quarter of 2022. Now we'll review the highlights for the 2023 year. Net sales increased by 8.8% to $576.4 million in 2023 compared to $529.6 million in 2022. This increase was mainly due to higher sales of passenger vehicles in China, as total sales of the company's EPS systems increased by 24.6% year-over-year, and sales of the company's Henlong subsidiary vehicle steering systems to the Chinese vehicle passenger market increased by 10.1% year-over-year. Brazil Henlong net sales grew by 22.9% year-over-year to $48.3 million in 2023. This rose partially offset an 8.5% year-over-year sales reduction by North American customers in 2023. EPS sales represented 33.8% of total revenue in 2023 compared to 29.5% in 2022. Gross profit in 2023 increased by 24.5% year-over-year to $103.8 million this compared to $83.4 million in 2022. The gross margin increased to 18% and 15.7% in 2022, mainly due to a change in our product mix for the year ended December 31, 2023. Net gain on other sales in 2023 increased to $5.8 million, compared to $3.7 million in 2022, mainly due to an increased R&D revenue. Excuse me. Salving expenses declined by 7.7% year-over-year to $15.6 million in 2023 compared to $16.9 million in 2022, mainly due to a decrease in transportation expenses. Salving expenses represented 2.7% of net sales in 2023 compared to 3.2% in 2022. G&A expenses decreased by 2.3% year-over-year to $25.5 billion in 2023 compared to $26.1 million in 2022. G&A expenses represented 4.4% of net sales in 2023 compared to 4.9% of net sales in 2022. This decrease was mainly due to the decrease of allowances for credit losses. R&D expenses declined by 19.1% to $29.2 million in 2023 compared to $36.1 million in 2022. The decrease is primarily due to the decreased R&D activities for new projects for traditional products. R&D expenses were 5.1% of sales in 2023, compared to 6.8% of net sales in 2022. Operating income increased by 390%, to $39.2 million in 2023, compared to $8 million in 2022. The increase in operating income was mainly due to a 24.5% increase in gross profits, combined with an 11.1% decrease in operating expenses. Interest expense was $1 million in 2023 compared to $1.5 million in 2022, primarily due to a decrease in borrowing rates. Net financial income was $4.7 million in 2023 compared to net financial income of $10.8 million in 2022, primarily due to a decrease in the foreign exchange gains contributed by the foreign exchange volatility in 2023. Income for income tax expenses and equity in the earnings of affiliated companies rose by 109.6% to $48.2 million compared to $23 million in 2022. The change is primarily due to higher operating income in 2023. Income tax expense was $5.1 million in 2023, as compared to $3.1 million for the year under December 31, 2022, representing an increase of $2 million, which is mainly due to the increase in GILTI tax expenses. Net income attributable to parent companies' common shareholders was $37.7 million in 2023, Compared to net income attributable to parent companies, shareholders of $21.2 million in 2022. Diluted net income per share increased by 81.2% to $1.25 in 2023, compared to 69 cents in 2022. The weighted average number of diluted common shares outstanding was $30,189,421 in 2023, compared to $30,000,000. 641,274 in 2022. Balance sheet items. As of December 31, 2023, total cash, cash equivalents, pledged cash, and short-term investments were $166.3 million, or approximately $5.50 per share. Our current ratio was almost 1.5, and long-term loans were $1.2 million. Total accounts receivable, including notes receivable, with $269.4 million. Accounts payable including notes payable were $253.6 million. Total parent company stockholders' equity was $344.5 million as of December 31, 2023, compared to $311.7 million as of December 31, 2022. Net cash provided by operating activities was $19.9 million in 2023 compared to net cash provided by operating activities of $48 million in 2022. Payments to acquire property, plant, and equipment were $18.2 million compared to $20.3 million in 2022. The business outlook. Management provides revenue guidance for the full year 2024 to $605 million. This target is based on the company's current view on operating and market conditions, which are subject to change. With that operator, we are ready to begin the Q&A.

Certainly. At this time, we will be conducting a question and answer session. If you would like to ask a question, please press star 1 on your telephone keypad. A confirmation tone will indicate your line is in the question queue. You may press star 2 if you would like to remove your question from the queue. For participants using speaker equipment, it may be necessary to pick up your handset before pressing the star keys.

One moment, please, while we poll for questions. Your first question for today is from Margaret Wilson, a private investor.

What products are you selling to BYD, please?

This is our first question, an investor's question.

His question is, what kind of product do we sell to Biadi? We have actually established a strategic partner relationship with Biadi. In fact, now many of its vehicles are supplied with products. For example, Song, Han, Tang, and its ocean series, Haiteng, Haibao, and its escort ship, Ah,

So BYD is our strategic partner. The relationship goes a long way from the very early days when they started enter automotive industry. And over the years we expanded and further our partnership. Now they have become the largest EV producer in China. and about to become the largest EV maker in the world. In terms of product, we supply to them the traditional hydraulic in the steering systems. We also supply to them the CEPS, the REPS product. In terms of vehicle models, There is a wide range of models. BYD models are using our steering systems. That's including Song, Han, and Tang. Those are three marquee products. And also, there are ocean series products like Seal. You can see these products are selling very well throughout China and also expanding globally.

Thank you.

Once again, if there are any questions, please press star 1. Your next question for today is from Gary Nash, a private investor.

Good day, everyone. First of all, congratulations on the performance given the challenges facing China, the Chinese economy. Here's my question. What is your expected capital expenditures for the 2024 year? And also, what are your capital priorities in 2024? Okay.

to achieve good performance, especially in this big environment, China's big environment, to achieve such good performance. He has a question. His question is mainly about our capital expenditure. Can he talk about how much capital expenditure in 2024? Then he wants to know more about our capital priority, OK. Thank you for your understanding. In China, it is not easy to achieve these results. Thank you for your understanding.

In terms of our capital spending in 2024, our total budget is about $25 million. The focus of this $25 million is to develop these newer products, such as IRCB and ERCB. These two are the most leading products internationally. Currently, we have acquired orders from Europe, North America, and Asia. These are world-class commercial vehicles. We are also acquiring these orders domestically. Therefore, we need to invest more money on this. About 10 million US dollars. Then the next direction is the increase in the size of the production capacity of REPS. We currently have a few production lines of REPS, but the production capacity is still far from enough. The current order demand is very high. Therefore, we may have another $10 million invested in the improvement of the production capacity of REPS. Then there are about more than $5 million left. Okay. First, thank you for recognizing what we have accomplished.

Like you said, the environment we are operating the businesses overall has been a very challenging macro environment, as you can understand. But we're very proud what we have done, what we accomplished in 2023. And we are very excited, extremely excited for the new year and the prospects for us in 2024. And on your question on the capital expenditure, And that's also tied into what's about to happen in the next few years. So we are extremely excited, and we're also very committed to the global expansion. It's about to come for our many customers. For CapEx in 2024, we're targeting about $25 million. In terms of a priority, a capital priority you mentioned, we will start off our 10 million U.S. dollars CapEx in the IRCB and ERCB product. Those products are already having orders from very large OEMs, global OEMs, so we are going to pick up more business in the international market, as well as we are supplied to the large domestic OEMs. And that's the first part. And the second part is under our EPS product, we're going to invest $10 million, reason being we are seeing rapid increase of orders for this type of product, and we are definitely want to increase the production to meet the demand. We have already maxed out our current production capacity for this product, and we are very excited to increase the production capacity in 2024. And lastly, we're going to spend $5 million on upgrading existing production line, fine-tuning, and some of the facilities, and making sure while we're expanding on a new frontier, new markets, we're also taking care of our current customers. So that being said, it's a holistic approach. we are going to continue to maintain and to upheld the customer satisfaction. And meanwhile, we're going to expand some of the, to meet the customer demand for new products.

Thank you. That was quite helpful. Thank you very much. Thank you. You're welcome.

As a reminder, if there are any questions, please press star 1. Once again, if you would like to ask a question, please press star 1.

We have reached the end of the question and answer session, and I will now turn the call over to Kevin for closing remarks.

We want to thank everyone for joining us today. We hope you have a safe and happy day, and we look forward to speaking with you in the future. Thank you.

This does conclude today's conference, and you may disconnect your lines at this time. Thank you for your participation.