METALIGHT (02605) has released its interim results for the six months ended June 30, 2026, showing a significant reduction in net loss. During the reporting period, the company prioritised consolidating the product and user base of its core application "CheLaiLe", continuously optimising product experience and operational strategies around user needs.
In terms of operational metrics, cumulative users of "CheLaiLe" grew by 6.1% to 354.1 million compared to the end of 2025, while average monthly active users increased by 6% year-on-year to 32 million. The company maintained user growth by continuously refining its online-offline integrated products and expansion strategies tailored to varying travel demands across different cities.
Facing intensifying competition in the mobile internet market, the company adhered to a user-experience-first philosophy, proactively making phased adjustments to certain advertising slots and display frequencies to reduce interference with user activity. While these adjustments had a short-term impact on mobile advertising revenue, management believes that continuously improving user experience is essential for enhancing product competitiveness, boosting user stickiness, and achieving long-term sustainable growth.
The measures have yielded positive results. During the period, "CheLaiLe" saw its average rating across six major app stores rise from 3.78 in January 2026 to 4.10 in June, an improvement of approximately 8.4%, reflecting a marked enhancement in user experience and product reputation. As product experience continues to improve and ad display frequency gradually stabilises, the company expects to unlock further long-term value.
Financially, revenue for the period reached RMB 92 million, down 5.1% year-on-year, with a gross margin of 74.6%. Net loss narrowed sharply from RMB 125.5 million in the prior-year period to RMB 5.03 million. Adjusted net profit stood at RMB 13.1 million, down 53.6% year-on-year, primarily due to lower revenue and severance costs related to phased workforce optimisation.
Looking ahead, METALIGHT stated that its focus for the second half will be on monetisation efficiency and revenue structure. The company plans to leverage AI algorithms to optimise ad inventory pricing and targeting precision, expand its programmatic advertising platform partnerships, and cultivate long-tail advertisers while maintaining a careful balance between product experience and commercial efficiency.
On the user front, "CheLaiLe" will continue to deepen its presence in third-tier and below cities, gradually rolling out features such as natural language interaction pending filing approvals, advancing the product's evolution into an intelligent mobility assistant. Additionally, in the autonomous driving bus (Robobus) direction, the company is advancing its Robobus operations support platform, enhancing platform capabilities around operations and support scenarios, while driving an AI-native organisation to integrate AI-Agents into R&D, testing, and collaboration processes to improve organisational efficiency.