Nio (NIO -4.48%) has been a fun ride for investors over the past month as its stock price shot up over 65%. It's had a handful of good news items, including China's government stimulus package, the fact that its new more affordable Onvo brand is delivering vehicles, and the company has been receiving more investment. Let's dig in.
What's going on?
Over the weekend, Nio announced it had received a cash infusion of $1.9 billion, but that's a little more complicated than it appears. Shanghai-based strategic investors, including Hefei Jianheng New Energy Automobile Investment Fund Partnership, Anhui Provincial Emerging Industry Investment Co., and CS Capital Co., have agreed to invest an aggregate of 3.3 billion yuan, or roughly $470.6 million in its subsidiary NIO China.
Nio has also agreed to invest 10 billion yuan, or roughly $1.43 billion, in cash to subscribe to the newly issued shares of Nio China. This will bring Nio to an 88.3% controlling interest in Nio China, with strategic investors and existing shareholders accounting for the remaining 11.7% equity interest in Nio China. Nio and strategic investors will funnel the cash into Nio China in two installments, with 70% due by November 2024 and the remaining 30% to be made by December 2024.
"With an enhanced balance sheet, NIO is strategically positioned to maintain its long-term advantages in technology, products, services, and user community, promote its multibrand strategy and penetrate broader markets, and propel the company into the next stage of sustainable growth," according to a Nio press release.
Timing matters
This cash infusion comes at an excellent time for Nio. The stock has already received a boost from the Chinese government's stimulus package. As China's economy never fully regained composure following the COVID-19 pandemic, and was then further slowed by a massive property slump and slowing consumer spending, China decided to lower the benchmark seven-day interest rate and reduce the amount banks needed to hold in reserve.
Not only did the cash infusion come at a fortuitous time alongside China's stimulus package, but it also came at a time when Nio was beginning to expand its more affordable lineup of ONVO vehicles. The first model, the L60 SUV, just began deliveries. Better still, Nio just promised customers that ordering an L60 now will get delivery within the year, noting that previous bottlenecks are being quickly resolved.
Nio isn't stopping with just one additional brand, either. Nio's third brand, with the internal code name of "Firefly," is also expected to be unveiled later this year with a first model set to be something between a small EV SUV and compact EV SUV.
Ultimately, this isn't a massive cash infusion, but it is worth noting, and it does come at a very opportune time for Nio and its investors as the company tries to shift into higher gear with more affordable vehicles. How Nio's more affordable sub-brands do in the market will be critical to its sales and revenue growth going forward. The company will face intense pricing competition in China's home market, but it's also a valuable market, with 51% of new passenger car sales being electric in July. This cash infusion is just a little more good news for Nio investors at a major turning point in the company's direction.
