LOBO EV Reports Fiscal Year 2023 Results and Sets Stage for Accelerating Growth in 2024

Rhea-AI Summary

LOBO EV Technologies (Nasdaq: LOBO) reported an increase in net profit margin to 6.4% in 2023 from 6.1% in 2022. The company generated $15.5 million in revenue, down from $18.3 million in 2022, with operating expenses decreasing to $1.4 million. LOBO's international expansion and innovative product launches set the stage for growth in 2024, fueled by the success of its IPO. The company's focus on operational efficiency, inventory management, and production improvements led to improved profitability metrics. LOBO is strategically expanding in ASEAN countries, Eastern Europe, and Latin America to capitalize on increasing demand for electric mobility, unveiling new solar energy e-trikes, golf carts, and ATV/UVT models. The company also introduced a new delivery e-bike series tailored for the food and goods delivery sector. By leveraging its flexible production capacity and forging strategic partnerships, LOBO is well-positioned for long-term success in the growing electric mobility market.

Positive

• Increased net profit margin to 6.4% in 2023 from 6.1% in 2022

• Successfully navigated through challenges to maintain a competitive position in international markets

• Strategic initiatives, including international expansion and innovative product launches, set the stage for growth in 2024

• Focus on operational efficiency, inventory management, and production improvements led to improved profitability metrics

• Expanded production capabilities and added new in-demand products to the portfolio in 2024

Negative

• Revenue decreased to $15.5 million in 2023 from $18.3 million in 2022

• Year-over-year revenue decline attributed to economic slowdown in China and high base effect from inventory liquidation in 2022

• Net income decreased to $986,471 in 2023 from $1,115,260 in 2022

• Gross profits as a percentage of revenue declined to 14% in 2023 from 17% in 2022

• Decrease in cost of revenues and increase in selling and marketing expenses impacting overall financial performance

Insights

Financial Analyst

LOBO EV's modest increase in net profit margin to 6.4% in 2023, despite a 15% decrease in revenue, indicates a noteworthy resilience in the face of broader economic challenges. This could be attributed to the company's cost containment strategies and operational efficiency improvements. The decrease in revenue was partly due to an unprecedented liquidation in the previous year, which would naturally inflate the comparison baseline. What stands out is the company's ability to enhance margins even as it navigates market softness, which speaks to a strong operational backbone that investors often look for in growth-stage companies. As for their IPO-led expansion and international market penetration, these moves bode well for future revenue diversification. However, it's important to track whether the growth in new markets and product offerings can sustainably offset domestic slowdowns and how well the company manages the risks of international expansion.

Market Research Analyst

The strategic shift towards international markets and the introduction of products like the solar energy series are significant in light of the global e-mobility market's projected growth to $39 billion by 2028. LOBO EV’s focus on ASEAN countries, Eastern Europe and Latin America taps into regions with rising demand for electric mobility, driven by increased environmental awareness and supportive policies. The introduction of the delivery e-bike series aligns with the booming delivery sector, which is a clever strategy to capture a slice of this growing pie. However, it's key to consider that these markets may present unique challenges such as regulatory risks, infrastructure variability and local competition, which can affect the pace and profitability of growth.

Industrial Analyst

The emphasis on operational scalability, with a 20% projected increase in production capacity, could potentially position LOBO EV favorably within the growing electric vehicle sector. The company’s rapid addition of high-capacity assembly lines and new product launches could be seen as an aggressive move to capitalize on the expanding market. Investors should note that the real test will be the efficient utilization of this enhanced capacity and whether it can translate into tangible sales growth without incurring excessive overhead or compromising quality. The automotive industry is notoriously capital-intensive and increased production capability must be matched with strong demand to avoid overproduction pitfalls.

Net profit margin increased to 6.4% in 2023, up from 6.1% in 2022

Capital from IPO driving new customer acquisitions and production capacity expansion

International expansion and innovative product launches position LOBO for growth in 2024

WUXI, China, May 06, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- LOBO EV Technologies Ltd. (Nasdaq: LOBO) (“LOBO” or the “Company”), an innovative electric vehicle manufacturer and seller, today announced its financial results for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023.

2023 Highlights

• Generated $15.5 million revenue in 2023, down from $18.3 million in 2022
• Operating expenses decreased to $1.4 million in 2023, down from $1.5 million in 2022
• Net profit margin increased to 6.4% in 2023, up from 6.1% in 2022
  

“In 2023, we navigated through several external challenges, yet our strategic initiatives, which capitalized on growing demand in international markets, allowed us to maintain a solid footing in a competitive landscape,” stated Huajian Xu, CEO of LOBO. “Our year-over-year revenue decline primarily reflects the broader economic slowdown in China. Additionally, our revenue figures in 2022 were unusually high due to a strategic liquidation of excess inventory accumulated during the COVID-19 pandemic. This one-time boost in 2022, where we cleared our stocks at wholesale, significantly elevated our revenue base for that year, making the comparison seem more pronounced in 2023. These moves were essential to optimize our inventory and set the stage for sustainable growth going forward.”

Tong Zhu, CFO of LOBO, stated, “Despite top-line pressures, our net profit margin increased to 6.4% in 2023, up from 6.1% in 2022. This performance reflects not only improvements in operational efficiency but also better inventory management and overhead control. The initiatives we undertook for optimizing our product lineup and enhancing our production techniques have paid off, leading to improved profitability metrics that we believe are sustainable.”

“With the successful capital influx from our March 2024 IPO, we are rapidly scaling our operations,” continued Xu. “We’ve added over ten new dealer customers to our network this year, securing potential orders worth more than $5 million, with over $1 million in new paid deposits already received. To meet this surging demand, we’ve recently further expanded our production capabilities with the addition of two high-capacity assembly lines that will enter production at our new Wuxi facility in early May. The new assembly lines will enable us to add new in-demand products to our portfolio, and together with production improvements at our other assembly lines, our overall production capacity will be up nearly 20% in 2024.”

LOBO is broadening its market reach, focusing on expanding sales in the ASEAN countries, Eastern Europe—including Serbia, Bulgaria, and Ukraine—and Latin America. These strategic international expansion initiatives have partially offset the temporary industry slowdown and increasing domestic competition in China as the Company capitalizes on emerging opportunities where there is increasing demand for electric mobility. Demand in these regions is being driven by growing environmental awareness, supportive policies for electric vehicles, and the rising need for sustainable transportation in urban centers.

At the recent Canton Fair, LOBO unveiled its latest innovations in electric mobility, highlighted by the new solar energy series of e-trikes, golf carts, and ATV/UVT models. These vehicles, designed to address the challenges of charging convenience and travel range, are pioneering solutions for the evolving needs of the market. Additionally, the introduction of a new delivery e-bike series tailored for the food and goods delivery sector aligns with the growing demand from major fast-food chains and retailers, tapping into the expansive parcel delivery market which delivered over 110 billion packages in China in 2022.

Xu concluded, “We expect to report year-over-year sales growth for the first half of 2024 as we focus on both our geographic expansion initiatives and continuing to service growing interest in our expanding product line up from the dealers in our distribution network. By leveraging our flexible production capacity and forging strategic customer partnerships, we are positioning LOBO for long-term success. As we advance, our vision is clear—to not only lead in innovation but also in driving sustainable, profitable growth while expanding our reach into new markets that show a strong potential for electric mobility.”

The global e-bike, e-trike, and e-scooter market was estimated at a combined $28 billion in 2023 and is expected to surpass $39 billion by 2028, growing at a compound annual growth rate of 6.6%, according to data from the Business Research Company.

2023 Financial Results

Revenues for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 were $15,474,918 and $18,298,565, respectively. The 15% decrease in revenues was mainly driven by an economic slowdown in China in the latter half of 2023, partially offset by increasing sales from international customers. Additionally, year-over-year performance was further impacted by a high base effect from the strategic liquidation of excess inventory, accumulated during the COVID-19 pandemic, during the second half of 2022.

Cost of revenues decreased by $2,006,360, or 13%, to $13,266,821 for the year ended December 31, 2023 from $15,273,181 for the year ended December 31, 2022. The percentage decrease in cost of revenue was consistent with the decrease in revenues.

Gross profits for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 were $2,208,097 and $3,025,384, representing 14% and 17% of revenues, respectively.

Selling and marketing expenses were $610,487 and $585,772 for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. Selling and marketing expenses primarily consist of salaries and benefits, office expense, and freight expense. The selling and marketing expenses increased primarily due to the Company expanding its salesforce.

General and administrative expenses decreased to $516,187 in the year ended December 31, 2023, down from $690,763 in the year ended December 31, 2022, reflecting cost containment strategies implemented during 2023.

Net income for the year ended December 31, 2023 was $986,471, compared to $1,115,260 in the year ended December 31, 2022, representing 6.4% and 6.1% net margins, respectively.

About LOBO EV Technologies Ltd.

LOBO is an innovative electric vehicle manufacturer and seller. LOBO designs, develops, manufactures and sells e-bicycles, e-mopeds, e-tricycles, and electric off-highway four-wheeled shuttles such as golf carts and mobility scooters for the elderly and disabled persons. LOBO also provides automobile information and entertainment software development and design services to customers. Leveraging its cutting-edge technologies in connectivity, multimedia interactive systems and artificial intelligence, LOBO re-defines and develops its products in order to provide users with convenient, affordable and pleasant driving experiences. For more information, visit: www.loboebike.com. Any information contained on, or that can be accessed through, our website or any other website or any social media is not a part of this press release.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (“Securities Act”) as well as Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended, that are intended to be covered by the safe harbor created by those sections. Forward-looking statements, which are based on certain assumptions and describe the Company’s future plans, strategies and expectations, can generally be identified by the use of forward-looking terms such as “believe,” “expect,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “would,” “could,” “seek,” “intend,” “plan,” “goal,” “project,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “strategy,” “future,” “likely” or other comparable terms, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. All statements other than statements of historical facts included in this press release regarding the expected closing date of the public offering and the Company’s strategies, prospects, financial condition, operations, costs, plans and objectives are forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause the Company’s actual results and financial condition to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risk and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, those described in “Risk Factors,” “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” “Disclosure Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” in the Registration Statement on Form F-1 filed with the SEC (Reg. No. 333-270499) and the final prospectus. LOBO undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, after the date on which the statements are made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events except as required by law. You should read this press release with the understanding that our actual future results may be materially different from what we expect.

Contact:

For more information, contact:
Zane Xu
IR Manager
ir@loboai.com

Dave Gentry
RedChip Companies Inc.
1 (407) 644-4256
LOBO@redchip.com

FAQ

What was LOBO EV's net profit margin in 2023 compared to 2022?

LOBO EV's net profit margin increased to 6.4% in 2023 from 6.1% in 2022.

How did LOBO EV's revenue perform in 2023 compared to 2022?

LOBO EV generated $15.5 million in revenue in 2023, down from $18.3 million in 2022.

What were the key factors contributing to LOBO EV's revenue decline in 2023?

LOBO EV's revenue decline in 2023 was primarily due to the economic slowdown in China and the impact of inventory liquidation in 2022.

What regions is LOBO EV focusing on for expanding its market reach?

LOBO EV is focusing on expanding sales in ASEAN countries, Eastern Europe, and Latin America.

What new product launches did LOBO EV unveil in 2024?

LOBO EV unveiled new solar energy e-trikes, golf carts, ATV/UVT models, and a delivery e-bike series tailored for the food and goods delivery sector.