Hyperdrive
Short Sellers Are Circling Li Auto Amid Doubts About EV Pipeline
- New launches crucial in China’s hyper-competitive EV market
- Shorts are pitted against more bullish Wall Street analysts
A Li One electric sport utility vehicle.
Photographer: Qilai Shen/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
Chinese electric-vehicle maker Li Auto Inc. has become a target for short sellers amid concerns that the company’s limited pipeline of new models this year could see it lose market share.
Short interest in Li Auto’s US-listed depositary receipts jumped to around 30% of its outstanding shares on Sept. 23, up from the 11% short interest seen ahead of its earnings call in late August, shows data from S&P Global Inc. A key concern: Li Auto’s ability to fend off competition in China’s hyper-competitive EV sector, given the company’s plans to hold back new launches until 2025.