Tu and Lei start out the podcast with a final recap of August sales and the 16 EV makers that made up a large percentage of total sales. The broader lesson is that the EV sector keeps chugging along despite all of the continuing challenges with BYD leading the way into a likely record 4Q. 

They then move to NIO earnings and the disappointing guidance for 3Q but the extremely upbeat 4Q sales forecast. NIO is looking at ~70K 4th quarter. Tu is skeptical and believes that Bin Li is calling on his Ops/Manufacturing team to step up and deliver NIO a recording setting quarter driven by ET5 sales. 

As an aside, Tu & Lei unpack the surprise announcement by Mobileye using NIO ES8s to test in Detroit and all of the implications of that announcement happening on the eve of the Detroit Auto show. 

Tu then switches over to a discussion about GM’s new import division that’s launching the Durant Guild in the Chinese market. 

Lei closes out the pod by talking about his upcoming trip to Detroit and being able to meet Tu for the first time in real life!