NIO CEO Li Bin: Auto industry enters most brutal final stage

This is a notable signal from a major EV maker that the competitive landscape is now defined by cost absorption rather than growth at any cost. The specific mention of component price hikes, particularly memory chips and batteries, points to a margin squeeze that is likely systemic across the sector, not just NIO-specific. The decision to hold prices despite these pressures suggests a strategic bet on volume and market share over near-term profitability, which could intensify price competition among peers. Whether other manufacturers follow suit or break ranks on pricing is the key dynamic to monitor, as it will determine how the 'final stage' reshapes market structure.