Automobile stocks experienced a collective decline in Hong Kong trading. At the time of writing, LI AUTO-W (02015) fell 4.7% to HK$67.95, while XPENG-W (09868) dropped 3.9% to HK$75.15. GWMOTOR (02333) also saw a decrease of 1.96%, trading at HK$12.98.

The downturn follows repeated warnings this year from CEOs of several automakers, including Nio, Li Auto, and Xiaomi, regarding cost challenges stemming from rising chip prices. On March 5, Exeed, the premium brand under Chery Automobile, announced a price increase for its Exeed ET5 model. The high-end 210 Laser Radar至尊版 variant saw its official guide price raised by 5,000 yuan. Furthermore, recent reports suggest that the refreshed ZEEKR 007GT, scheduled for launch in the second quarter, will also undergo a price adjustment, with rumored increases ranging from 5,000 to 8,000 yuan.

An earlier research report from HSBC indicated that the recent sharp increase in prices for upstream raw materials, such as metals and memory chips, is expected to impose significant cost pressures on automakers in the short term. The rise in memory chip prices alone could add 1,000 to 3,000 yuan to production costs, directly impacting the cost structure of electric vehicles. Beyond chips, price fluctuations in power battery raw materials like lithium ore are further amplifying these cost pressures.