Chinese EV Makers' Strong Rebound: Which ETFs Are Worth Your Attention?

The global electric vehicle sector has entered a critical juncture. While the U.S. market shows signs of slowdown, China’s EV landscape tells a different story. In Q1 2024, China’s electric vehicle sales reached nearly 1.9 million units—a remarkable 35% year-over-year surge. This divergence between markets has sparked renewed investor interest, particularly in exchange-traded funds tracking the Chinese EV ecosystem.

The China EV Turnaround: Beyond the “Winter”

The industry recently shifted from pessimistic narratives to cautious optimism, driven by robust delivery numbers and improving profitability metrics. Chinese EV manufacturers face mounting cost pressures from intense competition, yet they’re responding aggressively through workforce optimization, production fine-tuning, and supplier renegotiations. These operational adjustments are starting to pay dividends.

Nio, in particular, has captured market attention with a remarkable 30% monthly surge following April’s delivery milestone of 15,620 vehicles—a stunning 135% year-over-year jump. This performance sharply contrasts with XPeng’s 33% growth and Li Auto’s modest 0.4% April growth, highlighting the competitive fragmentation within China’s EV space.

Earnings vs. Execution: A Tale of Two Trajectories

XPeng’s first-quarter performance exceeded expectations significantly. The company posted RMB 6.55 billion ($910 million) in revenues, surpassing Wall Street estimates of RMB 6.11 billion. More impressively, gross margin recovered to 12.9%—a substantial leap from 1.7% a year prior and 6.2% in Q4 2023. This 520 basis point year-over-year expansion signals improving operational efficiency despite conservative Q2 guidance. The stock responded with a 5.9% rally.

Li Auto, conversely, disappointed investors. Q1 earnings came in at 17 cents per ADR, falling short of the 24-cent consensus estimate and representing a 10.5% year-over-year decline. While revenue growth hit 36% year-over-year to $3.6 billion, vehicle deliveries of 80,400 units (up 53% annually but down 39% sequentially) raised concerns about market saturation and intensifying competition. Management’s Q2 guidance of 105,000-110,000 vehicles, though showing 21-27% annual growth, fell below analyst expectations, triggering a 3.5% stock decline.

The AI and Smart Vehicle Convergence

A notable trend emerging from China’s EV boom is the deepening integration with artificial intelligence. Global automotive giants are actively partnering with Chinese counterparts to accelerate innovation. Toyota has initiated a collaboration with Tencent on AI and big data applications. Volkswagen is strengthening ties with XPeng on autonomous and connected vehicle technologies. Renault is exploring partnerships with Li Auto and Xiaomi—the latter having recently unveiled its inaugural electric vehicle positioned as a premium competitor to Porsche and Tesla.

This convergence of Chinese EV leadership and AI advancement creates a compelling investment thesis for ETF investors seeking exposure to this dual megatrend.

ETF Opportunities for Chinese EV Exposure

Investors monitoring this sector have several Chinese EV ETF options to consider:

Global X Autonomous & Electric Vehicles ETF (DRIV) offers broad exposure to autonomous and EV technologies across multiple geographies, with substantial Chinese EV holdings.

KraneShares Electric Vehicles & Future Mobility Index ETF (KARS) focuses specifically on the global EV supply chain and future mobility solutions, with meaningful Chinese EV allocations.

iShares Self-driving EV & Tech ETF (IDRV) targets the intersection of self-driving technology and electric vehicles, capturing both hardware and software innovation.

First Trust S-Network Future Vehicles & Technology ETF (CARZ) emphasizes next-generation vehicle technologies, including Chinese EV players at the forefront of innovation.

Investment Considerations

The current landscape presents a bifurcated opportunity. Select Chinese EV manufacturers demonstrate remarkable growth trajectories and margin expansion, while competitive pressures remain acute. Investor participation through ETFs mitigates single-stock risk while providing thematic exposure to China’s EV and AI convergence. Strategic entry points may emerge as markets digest ongoing earnings releases and delivery updates from major players.