Podcasts about nordpass

Four stories today — all connected to your portfolio.NIO's US-listed shares jumped nearly 4% in overnighttrading after the company rolled out a major upgradeto its NIO World Model driver-assist platform — reachingover 700,000 vehicles, including cars sold up to fouryears ago. The update runs across both Nvidia Orin-Xchips and NIO's own in-house Shenji chips simultaneously.NIO claims lower latency, smoother vehicle control, andindustry-leading route selection without HD maps.Driver-assist usage has doubled since January and theAI compiler boosted inference performance by 20%.NIO's head of autonomous driving R&D, Ren Shaoqing, saidthis week that NIO has caught up on its "smart drivinglesson" and that technology innovation in this space isabout to restructure the entire competitive landscape.William Li separately warned of a potential 20% contractionin China's auto market this year — yet NIO maintains its50% delivery growth target regardless.Noam Shazeer, co-inventor of the transformer architecturethat powers every modern large language model includingGPT, Claude, and Gemini, just left Google for OpenAI.Shazeer previously left Google to found Character.AI,returned in a multi-billion dollar deal in 2024, and isnow switching labs again less than two years later.The AI talent war has reached the point where theliteral inventor of the foundational technology is beingrecruited between every major lab simultaneously.Gas prices dropped below $4 per gallon today for thefirst time since March — a direct result of Brent crudefalling to $79 as markets price in tomorrow's formalIran deal signing ceremony in Switzerland. The sequenceis playing out as forecast: oil down, consumer pricesdown, inflation pressure easing. Shippers are alreadyreporting a slow recovery through Hormuz shipping routes.Chinese EVs now represent 6 of every 10 electric vehiclessold globally. Nearly 75% of all EVs produced worldwideare made in China. Export growth to markets withoutimport controls has been staggering — up 130% inSoutheast Asia, 60% in the Middle East, 55% in LatinAmerica year over year. Canada alone sold 940,000Chinese-made electric cars last year, up roughly 50%.

Six stories today — NIO leads and the China EV globalexpansion story is the one your portfolio needs to hear.NIO Champion Edition deliveries start Saturday June 20th— ET5, ET5 Touring, and EC6 all launching simultaneously.Starting at 313,000 yuan, better equipped and cheaper thanlast year's versions. The 5566 lineup has been struggling —down 56.3% year over year in May — and the Champion Editionsare NIO's answer. William Li said making EV models lightertakes courage. In May pure EVs outsold combustion cars inChina for the first time ever. He expects 70% NEVpenetration by Q3 2026.Chinese automakers can't enter the US because of 102.5%tariffs. So they're flanking. Geely acquired Ford's factoryin Valencia Spain. BYD is in talks with Stellantis for idleEuropean factories. Xpeng is talking to Volkswagen abouta European plant. BYD's Brazil factory holds 12.8% ofBrazil's auto market, outselling Volkswagen and Fiat.And several Chinese automakers are exploring Mexico asthe route into North America under USMCA preferentialtrade access. China's auto exports are up 61.5% yearover year in the first four months of 2026. The tariffwall didn't stop Chinese EVs. It redirected them.Kevin Warsh held his first Fed press conference andrepeatedly stressed "price stability" as his guidingprinciple. Money markets immediately priced in a ratehike by October. S&P 500 fell 1.2%. Two-year Treasuryyields climbed 16 basis points. The most hawkish Fedsignal since the Iran war started.But the Iran deal signs this Friday in Switzerland.The 14-point memorandum covers a permanent ceasefire,Hormuz reopening, and immediate Iranian oil exportwaivers. Brent crude is already at $79. Oil futuresare pricing $72 by February. When oil falls inflationfollows. When inflation falls rate cuts return. Whenrate cuts return growth stocks re-rate upward.Friday's signing is the real signal for your portfolio.BMW cut its 2026 profit guidance citing China demandweakness that "cannot be compensated" by Europe and USgains. State Farm's new agent contracts face massivebacklash as AI looms over the insurance industry.SpaceX shares are losing post-IPO steam. And the USAWorld Cup opener smashed every US soccer broadcastrecord — the business story behind the headline.

Five stories today — one of the most stacked news daysof the year.SpaceX confirmed Tuesday it is acquiring Cursor —the AI coding tool developed by Anysphere — for $60billion in an all-stock deal closing Q3 2026. Cursorgenerates $2.6 billion in annualized B2B revenue andis used by Fortune 500 developers globally. SpaceX'sstock gained 16% on Tuesday, surpassing Amazon inmarket cap. Elon Musk now controls SpaceX, xAI, Grok,Tesla, X, and the world's most used AI coding tool.SpaceX has also signed $26 billion per year in computedeals with Anthropic and Google combined.NIO Day 2026 preparations just started — advisorygroup applications are open now with a June 18 deadline.Deutsche Bank expects NIO's Q2 non-GAAP net profit toreach approximately 180 million yuan — a secondconsecutive profitable quarter driven by high-marginES8 and ES9 SUV performance. NIO AGM is June 24th.Deloitte surveyed 3,235 business and IT leaders across24 countries: 74% want AI to grow revenue, only 20%have seen it happen — a 54-point gap between ambitionand reality. 80-85% of enterprises miss their AI budgetforecasts by more than 25%. Uber blew its entire 2026AI coding budget by April. One company racked up a$500 million Claude bill from forgetting to set usagelimits. The era of AI accountability has started.Yum Brands is selling Pizza Hut for $2.7 billion.Brand recognition without innovation is nostalgia witha price tag. BlackRock is laying off for the third timein 18 months as AI replaces financial services rolesfaster than anyone predicted publicly.The US confirmed it will lift Iran oil sanctions themoment the accord is formally signed. Accord signed.Sanctions lifted. Iranian oil returns. Oil drops.Inflation eases. Rate cuts return. Growth stocksre-rate upward. Watch for the signature.

Four stories today — all connected to your NIO positionand the broader Chinese EV investment thesis.William Li spoke at the China Auto Chongqing Summit onJune 13th and said something most CEOs would never saypublicly. China's domestic auto retail sales declined19.5% year over year in the first five months of 2026.Early June accelerated to down 22%. The full year couldfall 15-20%. He called this the most brutal competitiveenvironment he's faced since entering the industry.Then he reaffirmed NIO will grow 40-50% this year anyway.That's not a contradiction. China's passenger vehicleownership has reached 370 million units — the market hasshifted from growth to replacement demand. Saturatedmarkets reward brands with real differentiation andpunish brands that competed on price alone. NIO spent68.8 billion yuan on R&D and 20 billion yuan on chargingand battery swap infrastructure. The ES8 is number onelarge SUV in China for six consecutive months. The ES9has a 17-week queue. The Firefly outsells Mini and Smartcombined. NIO designed itself for this exact moment.From the Chinese internet — are American automakersisolating themselves from the world? Chinese EVs face102.5% tariffs in the US but are winning Canada, Europe,Southeast Asia, and the Middle East simultaneously.China and Canada just agreed to allow 49,000 Chinesevehicles in at reduced tariffs. The US consumer is beingpriced out of the world's most competitively priced EVs.The security arguments are real — but so is the marketoutcome. US auto faces higher costs and fewer globalopportunities while Chinese brands expand everywhere else.The Pentagon added NIO to its Chinese military companieslist on June 9th. NIO called it unjustified and threatenedlegal action. This is not a sanctions list and does notrestrict trading of NIO securities. Some institutionalmandates force selling — that's real but finite pressure.18 analysts have buy ratings. The average price targetimplies 27% upside. NIO's AGM is June 24th — nine daysfrom now. That's the meeting that actually matters.China's NEV penetration rate hit 62.9% in May. Purebattery electric vehicles were 42.2% of all new car sales.William Li said the transition is irreversible. Six outof ten new cars sold in China are electric or hybrid.That's not a trend anymore. That's a completed transition.NIO is built for the world that already exists.

Four stories today — starting with the controversydominating Chinese automotive social media right now.Li Auto posted a chassis comparison video on theirofficial platform comparing the Li L9 Livis to theNIO ES9. The video was designed to make the ES9 lookinferior. NIO's VP of Branding Ma Lin went public onWeibo and challenged the video's authenticity — statingthat what it showed was physically impossible given theES9's suspension specifications. Li Auto deleted thevideo without responding. This is not the first time.The pattern is a company under sales pressure reachingfor competitive tactics that keep backfiring. Li Auto'syear-over-year sales have been falling for most of thepast 12 months. A company that is winning doesn't needto manufacture evidence against a competitor.NIO president Qin Lihong confirmed the All-New ES8 willcomplete its 120,000th delivery in June. At the same timethe ES9 hits its 10,000th delivery — in its very firstfull month of production. Two milestones. Same month.The barbell is working. NIO June total deliveries areexpected to top 40,000 units.My Discord raised the honest bear case questions thisweek. NIO is running on a few demand engines. If thoseslow down without new ones behind them Q3 and Q4 getscomplicated. The R&D restructuring concern — subsidiariesabsorbing innovation spend off the consolidated books —is a real question. Is profitability being achieved byweakening the long-term innovation engine? I don't wantthat trade. NIO's approach is more conservative thanXpeng's physical AI moonshot. Conservative can be right.Conservative can also mean getting outflanked. The juryis still out and these questions deserve honest answers.NIO fell 5.8% on the week because the May jobs reportdoubled consensus at 172,000 added. The 10-year yieldspiked to 4.54%. "Good news is bad news" — strong jobsmeans the Fed doesn't cut. Kevin Warsh walks into a ratehike environment nobody expected. This is a macro storynot a NIO thesis story. Watch oil. Watch the Iran deal.That's your real signal.

Four stories today — starting with the luxury carconversation that connects directly to your NIO thesis.Rolls-Royce unveiled the new Spectre electric car andthe Chinese internet destroyed it immediately — tooconservative, no technology story, just an expensivecar with a plug. A Chinese financial analysis summed itup: domestic luxury brands still have a lot to learnabout what luxury means in 2026. Ferrari got the sametreatment with the Luce last week but the follow-upanalysis argues Ferrari prepared for it and doesn't care— their target is the tech nouveau riche globally,not Chinese internet approval.Here's the nuance everyone is missing. The NIO buyeris neither of these people. Ferrari and Rolls-Roycebuyers have exorbitant disposable income — these aretoys, discretionary purchases alongside yachts andprivate jets. The NIO ES9 buyer at 498,000 yuan is awealthy professional making a serious primary vehicledecision. That market is enormous. Ferrari's isdeliberately tiny. Western luxury brands strugglingto connect with Chinese consumers is a gift to NIO —which has spent 8 years studying exactly what theChinese affluent professional buyer wants.Bloomberg published "How the Iran War Is BoostingClean Energy in Asia and Europe" today — the samethesis this channel has been making since February.The energy price shock from Hormuz is acceleratingEV adoption globally. Chinese companies supply thealternatives. NIO exports are already reflecting it.Broadcom reported earnings and missed — stock plungeddouble digits. CrowdStrike also dropped sharply. TheNasdaq fell 0.76% while the Dow gained over 1% asinvestors rotated out of chip stocks. First realcrack in the AI chip trade. Speed bump not collapse —the underlying AI infrastructure spending is realand continues regardless of any single earnings miss.The House passed a war powers resolution limitingTrump on Iran — he called it meaningless. Israel andLebanon agreed to a ceasefire today — oil and yieldsslipped. The direction is toward resolution. Jobsreport Friday morning sets the tone for June.

Four stories today — all connected to the biggest monthin NIO's history.NIO has burned approximately 100 billion yuan — $14.6billion — over 8 years since William Li founded the companyin 2014. June is the verdict month. NIO delivered 67,061vehicles in April and May combined. To hit Q2 guidance of110,000-115,000 vehicles it needs 42,939 to 47,939 in Junealone. The ES9 is in its first full production month withover 50,000 pre-orders. Onvo L60 deliveries begin June 11.Gen 5 swap stations arrive mid to late June. NIO's shortinterest just hit a 32-month low — the bears are leaving.The setup has never been better.A major Chinese analysis this week asks why Chinese carsare getting bigger. The answer: margin pressure is forcingevery automaker upmarket into flagship territory whereprofits still exist. But the article makes a critical point —most brands launching flagships above 400,000 yuan arebystanders. Only brands with years of authentic premiuminvestment can actually convert those buyers. NIO has spent8 years building that identity. Most competitors have not.Lotus — the iconic British sports car brand owned by Geely —just walked back 8 years of all-electric commitment andis reintroducing hybrid powertrains. Pure EV was correctas a direction. But for a performance brand whose customerstrack their cars, range anxiety and charging limitationsmade the all-electric bet commercially unworkable. TheChinese internet put it perfectly: "Going fully electricwas correct. Retreating from fully electric is rational."NIO's battery swap network was built specifically to solvethe problem that just forced Lotus to retreat.Trump confirmed in a Wednesday interview that Iran hasalready agreed not to pursue nuclear weapons — and thatthe Strait of Hormuz could reopen as soon as this month.That triggers a sequence: oil drops, inflation falls,rate cut expectations return, growth stocks re-rate upward.Watch oil tonight. Watch Treasury yields. June could behistoric for your portfolio in more ways than one.

Quick correction upfront — yesterday's story aboutWilliam Li preparing an 8th IPO came from a Chinesearticle headline I could not fully verify. I'm pullingit back until confirmed. Credibility first always.The ES9 launched May 27th and already has a 17-weekdelivery queue. NIO stock surged 6.79% on June 1st andis trading at $6.18. The demand is real. But a seriousquestion is being asked — the ES8 sold 110,000 unitsin 8 months. Can the ES9 replicate that in a marketwhere product half-lives keep shrinking?The honest bull case: the ES9 at 498,000 yuan targetsa different buyer than the ES8 at 406,800 yuan. If NIOopened a new segment rather than cannibalizing anexisting one, the ES9 has its own ceiling to find.The honest bear case: the 17-week queue reflectsinitial pent-up pre-order demand. The real test isAugust and September when that normalizes. Huawei,Aito, Zeekr, and Yangwang are all competing for thesame buyer above 400,000 yuan.The S&P 500 crossed 7,600 for the first time today.HPE surged 30% on its biggest earnings beat since 2018.Alphabet announced plans to raise $80 billion fromstock sales dedicated to AI infrastructure. The AItrade keeps running regardless of macro headwinds.SpaceX's IPO roadshow is live this week. The companytargets $1.8 trillion. Morningstar values it at $780billion. The gap is Elon Musk's broader vision — xAI,X, Starship — versus just the proven rocket andStarlink business. Watch the order book when it opens.Florida's Attorney General sued OpenAI and is seekingto hold Sam Altman personally liable for alleged harms.First major state-level action targeting an AI CEOindividually. If it gains traction every AI company'srisk calculus changes permanently.

Four stories today — starting with the most importantweek in NIO's 2026 delivery story so far.NIO delivered 37,705 vehicles in May 2026 — up 62.3%year over year and up 28.4% from April's 29,356.Three brands all firing: 20,013 NIO brand, 12,029 Onvo,5,663 Firefly. Year-to-date deliveries hit 150,526 —up 68.7% year over year. Cumulative deliveries reached1,148,118. The ES8 has been the number one sellingvehicle above 400,000 yuan for five consecutive months.The ES9 has over 50,000 pre-orders — with deliveriesonly starting May 28th. June is when the ES9 volumereally arrives.William Li is reportedly preparing to take Mirattery —NIO's battery asset operator — public as his eighth IPO.Mirattery owns the batteries in NIO's 3,846 swap stations.It recently closed a Series C total of nearly 2 billionyuan with state-backed institutional investors. A MiratteryIPO gives the battery swap infrastructure its own publicvaluation — separate from NIO's stock price. NIOshareholders already own a piece of that business.The market hasn't priced it in yet.The May Chinese EV delivery rankings reshuffled.Leapmotor delivered 81,569 units — record high for thesecond consecutive month. Zeekr delivered 34,377 unitsup 81.81% year over year. Huawei HIMA delivered 46,122.Xiaomi exceeded 30,000 for the month. BYD delivered376,990 — ending its 8-month year-over-year declinestreak. The market is forming a barbell — premium brandsand value brands winning, the middle getting squeezed.NIO is firmly on the premium side of that barbell.The Iran 60-day MOU is still waiting for Trump'ssignature. Hormuz remains largely closed. Oil at $92.56.June brings Gen 5 swap stations, Onvo L60 launch, andES9 volume ramping. The setup for Q3 is building now.

Four stories to close out May — starting with the mostunderrated bull case in the NIO thesis right now.NIO's battery swap network delivered 16% of all EV chargingenergy in China over a five-day period. Not 16% of NIOvehicle energy. 16% of ALL electric vehicle charging energyacross the entire Chinese market. From one company'sinfrastructure. In five days. The market is pricing NIOas a car company. The swap network is becoming an energyinfrastructure business — a recurring revenue platformwith a flywheel that gets stronger with every vehicle sold.Gen 5 swap stations arrive mid to late June, unifiedacross all three NIO brands for the first time. The numberthat is already 16% goes higher.Software stocks closed May as their best month since 2001.The SaaSpocalypse — the fear that AI would destroy SaaS —didn't happen. Dell surged 33%. Snowflake 36.5%.AI is making software more valuable not less — selectingfor the companies that use AI as a feature rather thanrunning from it as a threat.SpaceX trimmed its self-assessed valuation to $1.8 trillionand is still on track for the largest IPO in world history.MiniMax — the Chinese AI company recently compared toDeepSeek — is pursuing a China listing. SoftBank announcedplans to invest up to €75 billion in French AI data centers.The AI infrastructure arms race is now a global story.The US and Iran are "mostly agreed" on a 60-day memorandumof understanding — ceasefire extended, Hormuz reopens,nuclear talks begin. The deal still needs Trump's signature.Oil closed May at $92.56 — down nearly 19% for the month —worst monthly performance since COVID. Watch Monday morning.If the deal gets signed the market opens at a new recordand everything that's been held back by the macro overhangsince February starts to move.

Dell Technologies just had its best single session in companyhistory — up 33% after beating earnings and raising full-yearguidance. AI server demand is flooding Dell's infrastructuredivision. Snowflake surged 36.5%. Best Buy up 15.8%.And today I want to have the honest conversation this channelhas needed to have.I am a news guy first. I found the NIO story because it wasone of the most compelling business stories of the decade —a Chinese EV company surviving bankruptcy, rebuilding fromnothing, competing against the world's most advanced automakers— and almost nobody in the English-speaking world was tellingit properly. I opened that window. That's still what thischannel is.But I own Dell. And today was a very good day.The NIO vs Dell comparison isn't a competition — it's aportfolio conversation. A concentrated bet on NIO missesthe AI infrastructure wave. A concentrated bet on Dellmisses the Chinese EV expansion story. The mistake thiscommunity sometimes makes is treating NIO as an identityrather than an investment.You're not a NIO person. You're an investor who has NIOin your portfolio. Those are different things.Bloomberg confirmed a tentative US-Iran deal is beingdiscussed. S&P 500 closed at 7,580 — a new all time record.The Dow crossed 51,000 for the first time in history.Oil slipped on the deal optimism. If this holds — everymacro headwind that's been weighing on growth stocks sinceFebruary starts to reverse. Rate cut expectations return.And the stocks held back by the overhang — including NIO —get re-rated upward.NIO launched its fifth Q2 product today — Onvo L60 pre-saleskicked off at the Shenzhen Auto Show. Official launch June 11.I'm a news guy. I document stories. The Chinese EV storyis one of the most important business stories of the decade.But I own Dell too.

Four stories today — all connected to the future ofthe Chinese EV market and your portfolio.BYD unveiled the Xuanji A3 — China's first mass-producedautomotive-grade 4nm smart driving chip. 2,100 TOPS ofcomputing power in a three-chip configuration. Built forL3 and L4 autonomous driving. Already in mass production.But the real story is the 24-year infrastructure behind it.BYD set up its chip division in 2002 — before the iPhone.7,000 chip engineers. 5 wafer fabrication facilities.Over 2,000 chip products across 13 categories. Chipssupplying 46 other automotive brands. BYD is the onlyautomaker on earth with full-process chip manufacturingcapability — from architecture design through wafermanufacturing to testing. Wang Chuanfu said it directly:"The second half of intelligentization is all about chips."Xpeng reported Q1 with revenue down 17.6% year over yearwhile R&D jumped nearly 50% in the opposite direction.That scissors gap swallowed every positive effect fromimproved margins. Xpeng has 42 billion yuan in cash burningat over 5 billion per quarter — chasing Robotaxi, humanoidrobots, a flying car, and the Turing chip licensing business.He Xiaopeng is betting that 2026-2028 are the three mostcritical years for physical AI and that bleeding now meansdominating later. High risk. High ceiling.A suspected mine was reported in the Strait of Hormuzby Omani authorities this morning. A ceasefire frameworksits waiting for final signatures — 60-day extension,Hormuz reopens, nuclear talks begin. Oil is down 20%from 2026 highs — worst monthly performance since COVID.Watch Treasury yields Sunday night. Watch oil Monday morning.Those two numbers tell you what the market believes.Audi started pre-sales for the China-specific E7X — anddropped the four-ring logo entirely, replacing it withjust the letters AUDI. Co-developed with SAIC. Startingat 289,800 yuan. When a brand that competed directly withNIO's target customer strips its most recognizable identityto survive in China — that's the most bullish NIO datapoint of the week.

Welcome back. A lot happened. Let's get into it.NIO ES9 deliveries kicked off yesterday — one day early.NIO hired NBA legend Yao Ming as Chief Experience Officer.The stock surged 9.3% in the US and 10.45% in Hong Kong.The higher-priced Executive Signature Edition and HorizonSpecial Edition trims are selling far above managementexpectations — a margin story that flows directly intoQ2 revenue per unit.NIO Q1 2026: Revenue $3.7 billion — up 123% year over year.Deliveries 83,465 — up 98.3%. Vehicle margin 18.8% — fourthconsecutive quarterly improvement. Net loss narrowed to 332million yuan from 6.75 billion yuan a year ago. Q2 guidance:110,000-115,000 deliveries. Bank of America doubled its stake.Morgan Stanley and Bernstein both upgraded.Xpeng Q1 2026: Revenue $1.89 billion — down 17.6% year overyear. Deliveries 62,682 — down 33.3%. Gross margin 20.6%.Same market. Same quarter. Two completely different storiesabout brand positioning and where each company sits in theChinese EV landscape.Ferrari unveiled the Luce on May 25th — their first fullyelectric production car, designed with Jony Ive, priced at$645,000. Italy's deputy prime minister said it doesn't looklike a Ferrari. The Chinese internet compared it to a NissanLeaf. Ferrari's stock dropped 8% on launch day. China'sluxury EV market — NIO ET9 at 818K yuan, Maextro S800 at1 million yuan — doesn't need Ferrari's validation. It'salready here and already won.PCE inflation hit 3.8% for April — highest in nearly threeyears. And Wall Street is quietly profiting from the samewar it publicly says it wants to end. The financial incentiveskeeping Hormuz closed are enormous. Follow the money.

Four stories today — all connected to what mattersfor your portfolio right now.Tomorrow the Onvo L80 officially launches. NIO's directanswer to Tesla's Model Y — priced below it, with batteryswap included, and Morgan Stanley projecting Onvo reaches30% of NIO group deliveries in Q2 up from 16% in Q1.William Li confirmed deposit flow was already exceedinginternal forecasts before the official launch.ES9 deliveries start May 27th. The L60 facelift haspre-sales coming late May with an official launch in June.That's four major NIO and Onvo product launches in asingle quarter — the most aggressive product calendarin company history.Today NIO pushed the Aster 1.5.0 OTA update to allexisting Firefly owners — a free motor power boost from105kW to 120kW, no hardware changes required. The updatealso prepares Firefly vehicles for NIO's fifth-generationbattery swap stations — the infrastructure that unifiesall three NIO brands on one network for the first time.NIO operates 3,846 swap stations and has delivered over110 million swaps since 2018. William Li guides to4,500-4,600 stations by year end. Gen 5 changes theunit economics of the entire swap business.Trump and Xi Jinping agreed today that the Strait ofHormuz must remain open. That's a joint US-China position— not just American pressure on Iran. China absorbs1.5 million barrels of Iranian oil daily. When Beijingpublicly aligns with Washington on Hormuz staying open,Iran's negotiating position weakens significantly.China also ordered 200 Boeing jets. Jensen Huang metChinese Premier Li Qiang directly in Beijing.And at midnight tonight Drake drops Iceman — 928 dayssince his last solo album, first since the Kendrick Lamarbeef reshaped his public image. The streaming numbersSaturday morning are a referendum on whether hip-hopstill moves the needle commercially — and whetherDrake's cultural dominance survived the feud.NIO earnings May 21st. Xpeng May 28th.---

Six stories today — all connected to your portfolio.The NIO ES8 topped China's large SUV retail rankingsfor the fifth consecutive month — including combustionvehicles. The most premium mainstream NIO product isthe best-selling large SUV in China. That margin mixis what William Li was signaling when he told his teamrevenue growth would outpace delivery growth in Q1.The Onvo L80 launches tomorrow. Starting at 245,800 yuanwith the battery — 17,700 yuan cheaper than Tesla'sModel Y in China. Under BaaS the entry price drops to159,800 yuan. 2,840 liters of total cargo space —largest of any five-seat SUV in China. 900-voltarchitecture. LiDAR version with NIO's Shenji chipor pure vision with Nvidia Orin X. Early order datais tracking slightly better than the L90 at the samepre-sales stage. Onvo targets 3,300 swap stationsby year end.Trump landed in Beijing today with Tim Cook, Elon Musk,and Jensen Huang — who boarded Air Force One in Alaskaat the last minute after Trump called him personally.Topics: trade, Taiwan, Iran, and Nvidia chip exportcontrols. If any movement emerges on chip exportsfrom this summit it moves the entire semiconductorsector and NIO's autonomy roadmap simultaneously.Tesla FSD just crossed 10 billion cumulative miles.Huawei Qiankun hit 10.47 billion kilometers cumulativewith 910 million kilometers in April alone. A Huaweiexecutive declared they will surpass Tesla by October.Tesla is reportedly pushing its full-strength FSD V14to employee vehicles in China for the first time.The biggest autonomous driving battle in Chinesehistory is underway.Chinese industry executives are now calling L3 amarketing grey zone — the liability problem betweenL2 and L4 creates confusion that hurts consumersand exposes manufacturers. NIO's careful marketinglanguage is a competitive advantage in this environment.Xpeng reports Q1 earnings May 28th — one week after NIO.PPI hit 6% year over year. Markets hit all time highs.Cerebras priced its AI chip IPO at $185/share.---

Four stories today — all connected to your NIO position.NIO reports Q1 2026 earnings on May 21st before US marketsopen. Three things to watch on the call: whether revenuegrowth outpaced delivery growth as management guided,whether gross margin held above 17.5% from Q4 2025,and what William Li says about ES9 and L80 demand momentum.April delivery breakdown: the ES8 delivered 13,020 units —44% of NIO's entire monthly volume. The 5566 lineup(ET5, ET5 Touring, ES6, EC6) is under significant pressurewith meaningful year-over-year declines across every model.In Q1 the ES8 accounted for over 77% of NIO-brand deliveries.That's a company running on one engine. The ES9 and L80are engines two and three — both launching in the next 15 days.Every major automaker now wants chip independence.Volkswagen announced it's developing its own automotiveSystem-on-Chip in China for Level 3 autonomous driving.VW is already using Xpeng's Turing chip in its firstall-electric China SUV — the ID. UNYX 08 — which justentered production with deliveries starting by end of June.Reports from the Chinese internet suggest NIO is planningto sell its Shenji NX9031 chip to other manufacturersafter spinning off the chip business. The Apple siliconplaybook applied to automotive.April CPI dropped today at 3.8% year over year — thehighest since May 2023. Gasoline up 28.4% annually.Beef up 14.8%. Airline fares up 20.7%. Real wages fell.Bank of America now forecasts no Fed rate cuts untilthe second half of 2027. Traders are pricing a 30%chance of an actual rate hike by year end.The macro headwind is real. It's Iran-driven.It resolves when Hormuz resolves. Until then —watch oil, not the Dow.Also — missed yesterday. Writing a book. More soon.

El fiscal general interino de Estados Unidos, Todd Blanche advirtió que las acusaciones contra funcionarios mexicanos con presuntos vínculos con el narcotráfico continuarán.Tatiana Clouthier presentó su renuncia al Instituto de los Mexicanos en el Exterior por aspiraciones políticas para ir tras la gubernatura de Nuevo León.Se detectó hidrocarburo fresco en zonas de anidación de la tortuga carey en Campeche. Esto sucede al inicio de la temporada alta de anidación.El director general de la OMS, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus explicó que al corte de este jueves se tenían cinco casos confirmados y tres sospechosos por el brote en el crucero MV Hondius. Además, señaló que hasta el momento, no existe un potencial pandémico en el hantavirus.Un informe de NordPass y NordStellar, dos empresas de ciberseguridad, reveló cuáles fueron las contraseñas más usadas en 2025. Y déjanos cortarte que fueron bastante prececibles… “123456”, “admin” y “password” están en el top de contraseñas más usadas en el mundo.El Comité Olímpico Internacional propuso levantar las restricciones a los deportistas de Bielorrusia.Por 14 años, Krista Richard ha recolectado bicicletas y triciclos donados para repararlos y regalarlos a familias que no pueden costearlos en Moncton.Para enterarte de más noticias, suscríbete aquí a nuestro newsletter y síguenos en redes sociales. Estamos en todas las plataformas como Te lo cuento. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Five stories today — NIO leads everything.ES9 test drives open May 11th — this Sunday.NIO has initiated a 10,000 kilometer (6,200 mile)shortest-time driving challenge alongside the opens.Onvo L80 launches May 15. ES9 deliveries begin May 27on the same day as the official launch — nearlyunheard of in the Chinese EV industry.A leaked image circulating on Chinese social mediasuggests NIO is developing a companion smartphonethat extends across all three of its brands — NIO,Onvo, and Firefly. A NIO phone would integratenatively with the swap network, NIO Pilot, vehiclecontrols, and the Shenji chip ecosystem. This is theecosystem thesis playing out in real time.April EV sales are in. Leapmotor hit 71,387 units —a 73.9% year-over-year increase and a new all-timemonthly record. NIO delivered 29,356 units — up22.8% year-over-year but squeezed out of the 30Kclub by Xiaomi. NIO's cumulative deliveries crossed1.11 million units. The April softness was predicted.May 15th is when the recovery starts.Leapmotor's record comes with a problem. Its newD-series flagship is priced at 250,000-300,000 yuan —moving directly into NIO's territory. The brand thatbuilt its identity on affordability is now trying tosell premium products to buyers who expect premiumbrand experience. NIO spent eleven years building that.Leapmotor is trying to do it with a product launch.Markets hit all-time highs today — S&P 500 at 7,398,Nasdaq at 26,247, six straight winning weeks. Micronsurged 13.7%, Oracle 13.56%, SanDisk 14.27% in onesession. Apple signed a chip-making deal with Intel.And Michael Burry compared the AI trade to the finalmonths of the 1999-2000 dot-com bubble.Watch the semis. Watch the AI infrastructure names.The momentum is real. So is the caution sign.---

Three stories on the last day of April — all connectedto your portfolio.Trump started a war with Iran in February. Oil hit $104.The Strait of Hormuz closed. And Chinese EV exports hit arecord high in March — up 140% year over year according tothe China Passenger Car Association. Solar, batteries, andEVs combined rose 70% in total export value. China's batteryexports alone hit $10 billion in a single month.Diesel is up over 100% in parts of Southeast Asia. Countriesthat depended on Middle Eastern oil don't need governmentincentives to switch to EVs anymore — their fuel bill isthe incentive. Trump started a war that accidentallyaccelerated the global case for Chinese clean energy.NIO's battery asset operator Mirattery issued its secondgreen ABN of 2026 — another 1 billion yuan, bringingcumulative issuance to 4 billion yuan total. The seniortranche carries a coupon rate of just 2.00% — below China's3.00% benchmark lending rate. The issuance was oversubscribed.Rates are trending down. The swap network is now raisinginstitutional capital at premium terms. That's infrastructure,not just a product feature.Big Tech reported last night. Microsoft beat. Amazon beat.Alphabet beat and rose 10%. Meta beat and fell 5% on flatQ2 revenue guidance. Combined AI capital expenditure acrossthe four companies has hit $725 billion for 2026. The marketis no longer rewarding beats — it's demanding proof thatthe spending is generating returns right now. Alphabet showedit. Meta didn't. The scoreboard reflects that.May is NIO's biggest month in company history.ES9 official launch. Onvo L80. Beijing Auto Show public days.---

Six stories from the biggest auto show in history —plus two US macro stories your portfolio needs today.The 2026 Beijing Auto Show opened April 24 as the largestauto show ever staged — 380,000 square meters, 1,451 vehicles,181 world premieres. The secretary-general of the PassengerCar Association called it the only booming top-level autoshow left in the world as Detroit, Frankfurt, and Tokyocontinue to shrink or cancel.Tesla skipped it. Again.NIO brought all three brands — NIO, Onvo, and Firefly —under one roof for the first time. The ES9 made its publicdebut with over 40 industry-first technologies, dual ShenjiNX9031 chips, and SkyRide full active suspension.Official launch late May. Deliveries June 1.The CEOs were the real show. Lei Jun of Xiaomi visitedNIO, Xpeng, Li Auto, and BYD's booths and gave printedT-shirts to Li Bin, Li Xiang, and He Xiaopeng — photoshit every Chinese hot search immediately. Wang Chuanfu —the richest man in China — took the subway to the venueand stood at the BYD booth for six hours straight.Huawei spread across 4,400+ square meters with five brandson one platform — and is creating a brand identity problemnobody has answered yet. Xpeng showcased Level 4 autonomousdriving with the GX model.Back in the US — Big Tech reports this week. Apple,Microsoft, Meta, and Amazon all drop earnings. The Fedmeets Tuesday with a 100% chance of no rate cut as oilstays above $100 and Goldman raised their Q4 Brentforecast to $90 per barrel.---

Five stories today — starting with the one every NIO investor needs to hear right now.A British Virgin Islands holding company called Charge Peak, which owns the patents of bankrupt Israeli startup Better Place, just sent NIO a cease-and-desist letter demanding $250 million — calculated as 2% of NIO's 2025 revenue. They're claiming NIO's battery swap network infringes three European patents.Here's why I'm not worried. This is not a lawsuit — it's a negotiating letter. Better Place went bankrupt in 2013. NIO was founded in 2014 and has been filing its own independent battery swap patents since 2017. NIO responded directly — their technology is "materially different" and developed through years of independent R&D. And the three patents cover European operations only — about 60 of NIO's 4,000 global swap stations.The timing is telling. This letter dropped the day before Beijing Auto Show with NIO stock up 95% in 12 months. That's not coincidence. That's a shakedown. Buy the dip if it comes.On the same day — NIO delivered its 100,000th third-generation ES8 in Beijing. 100,000 units above 300,000 yuan in a market where 56% of dealerships are losing money. William Li didn't pick that timing by accident.Israel and Lebanon extended their ceasefire three weeks after Trump personally joined the White House meeting. Three more weeks of breathing room for markets.Google dropped $750 million to help companies deploy AI faster — the real AI battleground is now implementation, not model building.And a startup called Noscroll launched an AI bot that does your doomscrolling for you. The irony for this channel writes itself.Beijing Auto Show media day is tomorrow. This channel covers everything.---

Four stories that all connect to your portfolio today.Tesla reported Q1 2026 earnings — $22.38 billion in revenue and $0.41 EPS, both beats. But deliveries missed at 358,023 units and Tesla built 50,000 more cars than it sold. Capex guidance jumped $5 billion above prior guidance to $25 billion. The stock gave back its after-hours gains on that news.Meanwhile NIO delivered 83,465 vehicles in the same quarter — up 98.3% year over year. The growth gap between these two companies is the story.China's auto price war just paused heading into Beijing Auto Show. Three years of below-cost pricing, collapsing margins, and industry-wide bleeding — and it stopped this week. That pause is a structural tailwind for NIO which was designed to compete above the price war's reach.Chinese automakers held 80 car launches in March 2026. Sales dropped 15% in the same month. That's the fast consumer goods trap — brands launching constantly while buyers wait for the next cheaper model. NIO operates above 300,000 yuan where that trap doesn't apply the same way.Beijing Auto Show opens Friday. 1,451 vehicles. 181 world premieres. Tesla skipped it again. NIO is at booth E203 with all three brands. ES9 momentum, ES8 milestone, and a potential Gen 5 battery swap announcement. This channel covers it all starting Friday.

Five stories that matter for your portfolio today.William Li held an internal NIO meeting and told his employees Q2 will be hard. Most CEOs would never say that out loud. Obi breaks down why that's actually the most bullish signal you could get — because honest CEOs outperform, and because Li already identified the solution.Q1 deliveries hit 83,465 vehicles — up 98.3% year over year. Revenue growth is expected to outpace delivery growth. ES9 early orders from non-NIO buyers are already 1.5 times the ES8 at the same pre-sales period. That's total addressable market expansion in real time.The broader Chinese auto industry is bleeding. The 200,000 yuan segment has become the kill zone. NIO operates above 300,000 yuan where margins still exist and brand matters more than spreadsheets.Sam Altman's World project is expanding to Tinder, Zoom, DocuSign, Shopify, and Okta. Iris scanning to prove you're human in an internet he helped make more confusing.A man hacked the US Supreme Court filing system, bragged about it on Instagram, and walked out with probation.And a disgruntled researcher dumped working Windows exploit code online because of a conflict with Microsoft. Criminals are actively using it. Every one of these stories is a tailwind for cybersecurity spending.Courtside Financial. Hosted by Obi.Nord Security Products:NordVPN: ⁠https://go.nordvpn.net/aff_c?offer_id=15&aff_id=143053&url_id=902⁠NordPass: ⁠https://go.nordpass.io/aff_c?offer_id=488&aff_id=143053&url_id=9356⁠Discord: https://discord.gg/GSbp4wR

William Li said at the ES9 launch that people can now forget about MPVs. Buick — with 27 years of MPV history in China — responded publicly on Weibo and invited Li to sit in their new Century before making that judgment.Today Obi breaks down what's actually happening beneath the brand beef.The numbers tell the real story: 11.88 million SUVs sold in China in 2025 vs just 1.06 million MPVs — and the gap is growing. The market has already voted.The ES9 starts at 420K yuan, the Buick Century starts at 470K yuan. They're fighting for the same wallet. But the ES9 isn't just competing on product — it's competing on technology, ecosystem, and the kind of brand momentum that has people in Chinese restaurants talking about NIO stock for the first time.Buick's response is good marketing. But when a legacy brand publicly defends its category against you — that's not strength. That's confirmation you're winning the narrative.ES9 deliveries start June 1st. 46 days away.Courtside Financial. Hosted by Obi.Nord Security Products:NordVPN: ⁠https://go.nordvpn.net/aff_c?offer_id=15&aff_id=143053&url_id=902⁠NordPass: ⁠https://go.nordpass.io/aff_c?offer_id=488&aff_id=143053&url_id=9356⁠Discord: https://discord.gg/GSbp4wR

Six stories today that connect around a single theme — the companies that survive consolidation own the decade.Nissan's Dongfeng joint venture was caught running a coordinated troll army against Li Auto during a product launch. Leaked internal documents exposed Li Auto's models as explicit targets. China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology stepped in.This is happening against the backdrop of China's auto industry hitting a 4.1% profit margin — its lowest since 2015. Over half of Chinese dealerships lost money last year. The price war nearly destroyed the industry. NIO just posted their first quarterly profit in this environment. That's the story.Meta is projected to surpass Google as the world's largest digital advertising platform in 2026 at $243 billion — Zuckerberg's quiet comeback is one of the greatest in modern corporate history.Citadel's Ken Griffin publicly warned of global recession if the Strait of Hormuz stays closed. The Iran ceasefire expires next week.Over 1,000 Hollywood insiders signed an open letter opposing the Paramount and Warner Bros Discovery merger.And Hailey Bieber turned Justin's Coachella headline set into a Rhode brand product launch. That's a founder mindset.Courtside Financial. Hosted by Obi.Nord Security Products:NordVPN: ⁠https://go.nordvpn.net/aff_c?offer_id=15&aff_id=143053&url_id=902⁠NordPass: ⁠https://go.nordpass.io/aff_c?offer_id=488&aff_id=143053&url_id=9356⁠Discord: https://discord.gg/GSbp4wR

Five stories that paint a clear picture of where the economy is heading — and one from China that you are genuinely not ready for.The S&P 500 closed Monday at its highest level since before the Iran war — fully erasing its losses — while oil surged to $104 a barrel the same day after Hormuz peace talks collapsed. One of them has better information. Historically it's oil.LVMH missed earnings — and when wealthy people stop buying luxury goods it's a leading indicator of broader consumer anxiety.PwC's new study of 1,200+ executives found 74% of AI's economic gains are going to just 20% of companies — the ones using AI to reinvent their business models, not just cut costs.OpenAI publicly said Microsoft has "limited their ability" to reach clients while announcing a new Amazon alliance and London office. The world's most important AI partnership is breaking down publicly.Intel is up 58% in nine days. Left-for-dead stocks can come back.And Seres — the Chinese automaker that builds Huawei's Aito brand — just received a patent for a built-in vehicle toilet. China's comment sections have not recovered.Courtside Financial. Hosted by Obi.Nord Security Products:NordVPN: ⁠https://go.nordvpn.net/aff_c?offer_id=15&aff_id=143053&url_id=902⁠NordPass: ⁠https://go.nordpass.io/aff_c?offer_id=488&aff_id=143053&url_id=9356⁠Discord: https://discord.gg/GSbp4wR

Four stories today that all connect back to NIO and your portfolio.William Li took the stage at the China EV 100 Forum urging the entire Chinese auto industry to standardize batteries and chips — a move he says could unlock over $14 billion in industry-wide savings. NIO's own ES9 has over 4,000 chips from 1,000+ varieties. NIO is cutting internally to ~400 types.A 36Kr analysis reveals China's auto chip self-sufficiency is only 25% — 75% still imported. DRAM prices jumped 180% in 3 months as Samsung, SK Hynix and Micron redirect capacity to AI. One mid-tier smart EV's memory cost went from $100 to $290.The $29K pure EV sedan market is dominated by Tesla and Xiaomi — and 2026 may be the last window for anyone else to crack it.And Trump just announced a US Navy blockade of the Strait of Hormuz after 21 hours of failed peace talks in Islamabad. Experts warn elevated oil prices could persist through end of 2026 — making NIO's battery swap model more valuable every single day.Courtside Financial. Hosted by Obi.Nord Security Products:NordVPN: ⁠https://go.nordvpn.net/aff_c?offer_id=15&aff_id=143053&url_id=902⁠NordPass: ⁠https://go.nordpass.io/aff_c?offer_id=488&aff_id=143053&url_id=9356⁠Discord: https://discord.gg/GSbp4wR

Friday roundup. Here's everything that mattered this week.NIO unveiled the ES9 — physically larger than a Rolls Royce Cullinan and projected to carry NIO's highest SUV gross margin. Pre-orders from outside NIO's existing community are already running 1.5x the ES8's pre-sale pace. We break down what it means for the business.ALSO THIS WEEK:— Inflation worst reading in 2 years — gas up $1+/gallon since US-Iran conflict began— 3,200 ships idle in the Strait of Hormuz— S&P 500 recovering war losses as ceasefire talks progress— Someone threw a Molotov cocktail at Sam Altman's house— Michael Burry posted and deleted — Palantir dropped anyway— Chinese NEV exports up 124% YoY in Q1 — Tesla China exports up 164%— Can NIO actually become the next BMW, Benz or Audi? The honest answer from the Chinese press— US crackdown on China academic collaboration — what it means for the tech warCourtside Financial. Hosted by Obi.Nord Security Products:NordVPN: ⁠https://go.nordvpn.net/aff_c?offer_id=15&aff_id=143053&url_id=902⁠NordPass: ⁠https://go.nordpass.io/aff_c?offer_id=488&aff_id=143053&url_id=9356⁠Discord: https://discord.gg/GSbp4wR

Last episode I left you with a question. Three years exceeding quota. No raise. No promotion. Do I stay or do I go?Today you get the answer.And then this series changes — because starting next episode we stop with the autobiography and start building your career.In this episode:

Most NIO investors are focused on delivery numbers. Not enough people are talking about the man leading the company and why he actually has something to lose.William Li founded NIO in 2014 with ~$150M of his own money.When the company was going bankrupt in 2020 he pledged his personal shares to fund $100M in emergency notes out of his own pocket. Then came the Hefei Miracle — a $1B lifeline from the Hefei government that saved the company.Today Obi breaks down that full story, explains why the 2026 $1.1B performance pay package is actually one of the most bullish signals in the NIO thesis, and covers Sam Altman getting a Molotov cocktail thrown at his house, Snap's AI glasses, StubHub's $10M FTC settlement, and YouTube raising Premium prices again.How quickly people forget. How many never knew.Courtside Financial. Hosted by Obi.Nord Security Products:NordVPN: ⁠https://go.nordvpn.net/aff_c?offer_id=15&aff_id=143053&url_id=902⁠NordPass: ⁠https://go.nordpass.io/aff_c?offer_id=488&aff_id=143053&url_id=9356⁠Discord: https://discord.gg/GSbp4wR

NIO revealed the ES9 today in Hangzhou. Pre-sales start at 528,000 yuan — about $77,000 — with battery-as-a-service bringing the entry price down to 420,000 yuan. That's 31% lower than the ET9 sedan carrying identical technology — the same Shenji NX9031 autonomous driving chip, SkyRide active chassis, 900V architecture, and 600kW charging. Official launch late May. First deliveries June 1st. NIO Hong Kong shares hit a five month high. Obi used Nord VPN to access the Chinese internet and found Chinese automotive journalists on dealership floors, real buyers pressing their faces against showroom windows, and community members calling the ES9 a Range Rover killer at half the price. Full breakdown of the confirmed specs — 5,365mm length bigger than a Rolls-Royce Cullinan, 520kW dual motor, 620km range, 47 speakers, zero gravity second row seats, electrochromic windows, wire-controlled steering, 5.4 meter turning radius — plus the investment thesis for what the June 1st delivery date means for NIO's trajectory through the rest of 2026.Nord Security Products:NordVPN: ⁠https://go.nordvpn.net/aff_c?offer_id=15&aff_id=143053&url_id=902⁠NordPass: ⁠https://go.nordpass.io/aff_c?offer_id=488&aff_id=143053&url_id=9356⁠Discord: https://discord.gg/GSbp4wR

GoPro cut 23% of their workforce this morning. Over 1,600 companies have announced layoffs since January 1st as AI eliminates jobs faster than any recovery can replace them. Apple former insiders confirmed this week that Apple had a 5-year head start on AI and wasted it — Siri still trailing ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude in 2026. And NIO confirmed today their in-house Shenji chip is going into the Onvo L90 launching April 21st — meaning NIO's own semiconductor technology now runs across Firefly, Onvo, and the NIO main brand. Shenji chips are already being pitched to Leapmotor and Geely as a third party supply business. NIO is not just a car company. They're building an AI chip ecosystem inside a car company. Obi breaks down what the AI layoff wave means for everyday Americans, why Apple's failure is the most important business lesson of 2026, and why the Shenji chip story is the most underappreciated investment thesis in the EV space right now. ES9 reveals tomorrow.Nord Security Products:NordVPN: ⁠https://go.nordvpn.net/aff_c?offer_id=15&aff_id=143053&url_id=902⁠NordPass: ⁠https://go.nordpass.io/aff_c?offer_id=488&aff_id=143053&url_id=9356⁠Discord: https://discord.gg/GSbp4wR

Three stories dropped today that most people aren't connecting. OpenAI is burning $85 billion in a single year. Pakistan is mediating an Iran truce that could drop gas prices this week. And tomorrow NIO reveals the ES9 — their largest SUV ever at 5,365mm long, bigger than a Rolls-Royce Cullinan, with 697 horsepower, 620km CLTC range, 900V charging adding 155 miles in five minutes, dual Shenji NX 9031 autonomous driving chips built in-house, and the SkyRide active chassis system from the ET9. Obi breaks down everything we know going into tomorrow's tech reveal event, why the battery swap model makes NIO owners immune to oil price swings regardless of what Pakistan negotiates, and why the ES9 is not just a car story — it's a civilization story about where automotive technology is actually being built.Nord Security Products:* NordVPN: ⁠https://go.nordvpn.net/aff_c?offer_id=15&aff_id=143053&url_id=902⁠* NordPass: ⁠https://go.nordpass.io/aff_c?offer_id=488&aff_id=143053&url_id=9356⁠Lessie AI (Courtside Financial Link) :https://bit.ly/4dmJk27Lessie AI Discount code: CF50Discord: https://discord.gg/GSbp4wR

J.P. Morgan put a $145 price target on Tesla today — a 60% drop from current levels. Meanwhile NIO upgraded the Firefly with more power, more features, and same price — giving existing owners the motor upgrade for free over the air. Volkswagen launched a new EV in China built using Xpeng's technology — the 89-year-old German automaker needed Chinese help to compete. BYD's Denza starts pre-sales for a luxury SUV that charges in 9 minutes. And tomorrow NIO reveals the ES9. Full breakdown of everything happening in the Chinese EV space 24 hours before NIO's biggest product reveal.Nord Security Products:*NordVPN: ⁠https://go.nordvpn.net/aff_c?offer_id=15&aff_id=143053&url_id=902⁠*NordPass: ⁠https://go.nordpass.io/aff_c?offer_id=488&aff_id=143053&url_id=9356⁠Discord: https://discord.gg/GSbp4wR

Tesla delivered 358,023 vehicles in Q1 2026 — missing analyst expectations of 372,000 for the second consecutive quarter while producing 50,000 more vehicles than it sold. The Iran war is disrupting the Strait of Hormuz, sending oil toward $100 a barrel and prompting Amazon to charge sellers a 3.5% fuel surcharge effective April 17th. OpenAI acquired TBPN — the buzzy founder-led tech talk show — making the AI giant's first media acquisition and concentrating both AI infrastructure and narrative infrastructure under one roof. And China's auto industry just published a deep analysis of Toyota's 70-year global journey asking whether Chinese brands can avoid Japan's mistakes on the path to global dominance. Obi connects every story back to NIO's positioning — why oil spikes make battery swap more valuable, why Tesla's stagnant product pipeline creates an opening for Chinese premium EVs, why NIO started premium when Japan took 70 years to get there, and why the ES9 reveal in 7 days is the most important product event in NIO's history.Nord Security Products:NordVPN: ⁠https://go.nordvpn.net/aff_c?offer_id=15&aff_id=143053&url_id=902⁠NordPass: ⁠https://go.nordpass.io/aff_c?offer_id=488&aff_id=143053&url_id=9356⁠Discord: https://discord.gg/GSbp4wR

NIO just dropped March delivery numbers and beat their own Q1 guidance. 35,486 total deliveries in March — 136% year over year. Q1 total of 83,465 topped the upper end of guidance at 80,000 to 83,000. The ES8 delivered 16,255 units in March alone — best-selling large SUV and best-selling vehicle above 400,000 yuan in China for three consecutive months. NIO stock jumped 2.82% to $6.20 with Hong Kong shares surging 10%. Obi breaks down every number — NIO main brand, Onvo's recovery, Firefly's build — then puts it in full competitive context. BYD posted its seventh consecutive month of year over year sales declines. Xpeng fell 17% year over year for the third straight month. Li Auto barely profitable in Q4. And Xiaomi just hired Tesla's former China GM to fix a retail and sales conversion problem they've been quietly hiding — a move that accidentally proves why NIO's eleven-year investment in community and direct retail experience cannot be replicated with a single personnel decision. ES9 reveal in 8 days. Beijing Auto Show in 23 days.Nord Security Products:NordVPN: ⁠https://go.nordvpn.net/aff_c?offer_id=15&aff_id=143053&url_id=902⁠NordPass: ⁠https://go.nordpass.io/aff_c?offer_id=488&aff_id=143053&url_id=9356⁠Discord: https://discord.gg/GSbp4wR

“The simple believe everything, but the prudent give thought to their steps.” — Proverbs 14:15 In a world where scams are increasingly sophisticated, Scripture reminds us that precaution is not paranoia—it's stewardship. Protecting the resources God has entrusted to us isn't just practical; it's spiritual. Today's threats may come through phone calls, emails, text messages, or even impersonations of people we trust. But as followers of Christ, we are not called to live in fear—we are called to walk in wisdom. So what does wise, faithful stewardship look like in a digital age? 1. Slow Down and Verify Scammers thrive on urgency. They want you to act before you think. If someone pressures you—claiming to be your bank, a government agency, or even a loved one—pause. Hang up. Verify the source using official contact information. Remember: Pressure is a red flag. Wisdom takes a breath. 2. Be Wise About How You Send Money One of the clearest warning signs of fraud is how payment is requested. Never send money via wire transfer, gift cards, or peer-to-peer apps (like Zelle or Venmo) to someone you don't personally know. Legitimate organizations will not demand payment this way. If something feels off, trust that instinct and walk away. 3. Use Tools That Protect You Not all payment methods are created equal. Use credit cards when shopping online—they typically offer stronger fraud protection than debit cards. Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) on financial accounts—it's like adding a deadbolt to your digital front door. Use an authenticator app when possible instead of text-based codes. These simple steps dramatically reduce your vulnerability. 4. Strengthen Your Passwords Weak or reused passwords are one of the easiest entry points for thieves. Use a password manager like Bitwarden or NordPass to create and store strong, unique passwords. Avoid reusing the same password across multiple accounts. Think of your passwords as keys—each door should have its own. 5. Monitor and Lock Down Your Accounts Staying alert can help you catch problems early. Set up bank alerts for large transactions or unusual activity. Freeze your credit with all three major bureaus—it's free and highly effective against identity theft. This is like installing an alarm system for your finances. 6. Be Cautious Online and in Public Convenience can sometimes come at a cost. Avoid accessing financial accounts on public Wi-Fi unless you're using a VPN. Only log into accounts on your personal devices. Limit what you share on social media—details like birthdays, family names, or locations can be used against you. Not everything needs to be public. 7. Protect Your Physical Information Digital security matters—but so does what's on paper. Shred documents containing sensitive information like bank statements, tax forms, or medical records. Be cautious of phishing emails or messages—even if they appear to come from someone you know. When in doubt, verify before you click. 8. Make It a Family Conversation Scammers often target the most vulnerable—especially older adults and teenagers. Take time to: Talk with your family about common scams Share what you're learning Stay informed together Stewardship is not just personal—it's communal. 9. Use Caution After Data Breaches If a company offers identity theft protection after a breach: Take advantage of it—but verify first Contact the company directly through their official website or number Don't trust links or instructions in unsolicited messages. Faithful Stewardship Without Fear There's no question that in today's world, financial faithfulness includes digital awareness. Guarding your data, protecting your family, and staying alert to fraud are essential parts of stewardship. But this isn't about fear—it's about faith expressed through wisdom. With a few intentional steps, you can protect what God has entrusted to you and live with peace—not panic. If you're looking for a simple way to manage your money and grow in faithful stewardship, the FaithFi app can help. It's designed to help you handle God's resources with clarity and purpose. You can download it today at FaithFi.com/App. On Today's Program, Rob Answers Listener Questions: I've been helping a friend financially while he's unemployed, but it's starting to strain me. He has no credit and doesn't know where to start. How can he build a financial foundation—and how can I help without hurting myself? I need to update my will and mainly want to pass my home to my children. I've heard a trust might be better. Can I set that up without an attorney? I'm working to rebuild my credit after medical debt, but I want to avoid taking on new debt. What are my options—and would borrowing against my paid-off home help or hurt? I was told I could pay off my $125,000 mortgage faster by moving it to a HELOC and running my income through it. Is that strategy legitimate? Resources Mentioned: Faithful Steward: FaithFi's Quarterly Magazine (Become a FaithFi Partner) Bankrate | NerdWallet Experian Boost Our Ultimate Treasure: A 21-Day Journey to Faithful Stewardship by Rob West Wisdom Over Wealth: 12 Lessons from Ecclesiastes on Money Look At The Sparrows: A 21-Day Devotional on Financial Fear and Anxiety Rich Toward God: A Study on the Parable of the Rich Fool Find a Certified Kingdom Advisor (CKA) FaithFi App Remember, you can call in to ask your questions every workday at (800) 525-7000. Faith & Finance is also available on Moody Radio Network and American Family Radio. You can also visit FaithFi.com to connect with our online community and partner with us as we help more people live as faithful stewards of God's resources. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Chinese EV price war is over. The infrastructure war has begun. BYD is building 20,000 flash charging stations by end of 2026 using a light-asset partner model that scales fast. NIO has 3,737 swap stations already running and is using battery subscription cash flows to issue bonds in China's interbank market — operating the swap network as a financial platform not just energy infrastructure. Obi breaks down the fundamental difference between a node business and a platform business, why flash charging creates linear value while battery swap creates exponential network effects, why CATL's universal swap standard could transform NIO's network from a brand-specific asset into public energy infrastructure, and why the swap network's battery lifecycle monetization — from automotive use through second-life grid storage — makes it the most undervalued asset in the Chinese EV space. ES9 reveal in 8 days. Beijing Auto Show in 24 days.Nord Security Products:NordVPN: ⁠https://go.nordvpn.net/aff_c?offer_id=15&aff_id=143053&url_id=902⁠NordPass: ⁠https://go.nordpass.io/aff_c?offer_id=488&aff_id=143053&url_id=9356⁠Discord: https://discord.gg/GSbp4wR

For 25 years Japan dominated global auto sales. In 2025 Chinese brands sold nearly 2.7 billion vehicles — surpassing Japan for the first time since 2000. BYD ranked sixth globally, Geely eighth, both surpassing Honda and Nissan. But Obi gives the honest picture — Toyota still earns more profit per vehicle than every Chinese brand, North America remains almost entirely closed, and sales volume is not the same as business quality. He breaks down Q1 showroom data from ten Chinese EV brand stores visited without appointments — NIO owners bringing friends in to buy, Li Auto customers walking past the i6 electric to ask about range extended, Xiaomi's heat arriving and vanishing within a week. Leapmotor launches a 300,000 yuan flagship on April 16th targeting NIO's price segment — and faces the classic upmarket brand trap. And Waymo's permit battle in New York City against taxi unions proves exactly why William Li said no to robotaxi in 2024. ES9 reveal in 9 days.Nord Security Products:NordVPN: ⁠https://go.nordvpn.net/aff_c?offer_id=15&aff_id=143053&url_id=902⁠NordPass: ⁠https://go.nordpass.io/aff_c?offer_id=488&aff_id=143053&url_id=9356⁠Discord: https://discord.gg/GSbp4wR

Someone found a practically new Chinese EV for less than half its original price. The brand that made it went bankrupt. Should they buy it? Obi says no — and the reason reveals one of the most important and underreported stories in the Chinese EV market right now. Over 6 million Chinese consumers are currently driving orphaned vehicles from brands that no longer exist. No commercial insurance. No parts. Software permanently frozen. Battery systems encrypted with no authorized repair path. In a market where 400+ EV startups have collapsed and industry leaders from Huawei and Xpeng both say fewer than 8 brands will ultimately survive out of the current 77 — the question every Chinese car buyer is now asking is whether the company they're buying from will still exist for the entire lifespan of the vehicle. Obi breaks down why NIO's first quarterly profit is not just a financial milestone for investors — it's a consumer confidence signal that fundamentally changes the purchase calculus for anyone spending 300,000 yuan on a vehicle and needing to know the company will honor the warranty, maintain the servers, keep the swap stations running, and deliver OTA updates for the next decade.Nord Security Products:NordVPN: ⁠https://go.nordvpn.net/aff_c?offer_id=15&aff_id=143053&url_id=902⁠NordPass: ⁠https://go.nordpass.io/aff_c?offer_id=488&aff_id=143053&url_id=9356⁠Discord: https://discord.gg/GSbp4wR

BYD just reported a 19% profit decline despite selling 4.6 million vehicles. The price war they started is now eating their own margins. Volkswagen paid Xpeng billions to license their technology — then used that technology to build a car cheaper than Xpeng's own vehicle. Xpeng dropped Motors from their name entirely and rebranded as a physical AI company. Honda is writing off 2.5 trillion yen and keeping their CEO. Toyota recalled 560,000 vehicles in China. NIO's Onvo restarted two new models. And Chinese cars now hold 14% of South Africa's market and nearly 40% of Egypt's.The price war phase of the Chinese EV industry is ending. The technology war is beginning. Full Friday breakdown.Nord Security Products:NordVPN: ⁠https://go.nordvpn.net/aff_c?offer_id=15&aff_id=143053&url_id=902⁠NordPass: ⁠https://go.nordpass.io/aff_c?offer_id=488&aff_id=143053&url_id=9356⁠Discord: https://discord.gg/GSbp4wR

Three months after buying his first house in Texas, Obi received a promotion to move to Scottsdale Arizona as a field account executive making six figures. Instead of letting the house hold him in place he cold called a property manager, turned it into a rental, and moved to a city where he knew nobody for the third time in three years. In this episode he breaks down what he learned about enterprise sales — why nobody spends millions based on a cold call, the discovery-to-proposal framework that drove his results, the personal SLA he created as his professional brand, and how he completed an eight-quarter inside AE program in four quarters. The lesson that runs through all of it — possessions should never hold your career hostage. Episode 6 of the full tech sales origin story on Courtside Financial.Nord Security Products:NordVPN: ⁠https://go.nordvpn.net/aff_c?offer_id=15&aff_id=143053&url_id=902⁠NordPass: ⁠https://go.nordpass.io/aff_c?offer_id=488&aff_id=143053&url_id=9356⁠Discord: https://discord.gg/GSbp4wR

There is a price point in the Chinese EV market that is genuinely dangerous to operate in right now — 200,000 yuan, roughly $29,000. Brands pushing up from below with better technology and lower prices. Premium brands pushing down from above with larger vehicles and aggressive discounts. The companies caught in the middle without precise positioning are being eliminated. Obi breaks down why precision is the only survival strategy in this segment, which brands are winning and why, and why NIO made the deliberate decision years ago to build their brand above 300,000 yuan — away from this battlefield entirely. He also gets honest about the challenge Onvo faces as it enters exactly this price band with the L60, the upcoming L80, and two new models in development. The swap network may be Onvo's one irreplaceable differentiator — but execution needs to be precise. ES9 reveal in 12 days. Beijing Auto Show in 27 days.Nord Security Products:NordVPN: ⁠https://go.nordvpn.net/aff_c?offer_id=15&aff_id=143053&url_id=902⁠NordPass: ⁠https://go.nordpass.io/aff_c?offer_id=488&aff_id=143053&url_id=9356⁠Discord: https://discord.gg/GSbp4wR

A Chinese consumer just spent $29,000 on a pure electric vehicle to save $15 a month on gas. That sounds irrational — but it reveals something deeply important about the psychology driving the next phase of Chinese EV adoption. Oil is back at nine yuan per liter. EV search traffic is surging globally. But EV prices are rising too — lithium up 130%, memory chips up 300%, aluminum at four-year highs. The era of endlessly falling EV prices may be over. And in this environment NIO's premium positioning becomes stronger not weaker. Full breakdown today.Nord Security Products:NordVPN: ⁠https://go.nordvpn.net/aff_c?offer_id=15&aff_id=143053&url_id=902⁠NordPass: ⁠https://go.nordpass.io/aff_c?offer_id=488&aff_id=143053&url_id=9356⁠Discord: https://discord.gg/GSbp4wR

Someone just spotted NIO's ES9 on the street, generating significant "nio news" just before its official debut. This sighting comes as discussions around "nio stock" and its market performance continue to be a hot topic in the "stock market". Even figures like "kramer" have weighed in on NIO's trajectory, making this a relevant update for those following "finance stock" movements.Join the Free CourtSide financial Discord to be part of the conversation before it hits YouTube! This video covers the exciting street sighting of NIO's ES9, just 15 days before its official reveal, sparking significant nio news. We also touch upon Jim Kramer's historical stance on nio stock and how the electric vehicle market continues to evolve. Stay informed on the latest finance news and stock market moves.Nord Security Products:NordVPN: ⁠https://go.nordvpn.net/aff_c?offer_id=15&aff_id=143053&url_id=902⁠NordPass: ⁠https://go.nordpass.io/aff_c?offer_id=488&aff_id=143053&url_id=9356⁠Discord: https://discord.gg/GSbp4wR

China's recent emergency oil price control, the first since 2013, highlights surging gas prices and a broader oil crisis. This move, capping oil prices due to rapid increases, is a significant development for the nation's economy. This action is viewed as a highly positive macroeconomic factor for the Chinese electric vehicles (EVs) industry, indicating a pivotal shift towards sustainable energy solutions. NIO Mirratery raising capital from BOND INVESTORS. Xiaomis NEW SU7 isn't selling as fast as the OLD one!China has implemented its first emergency oil price control since 2013, a significant move to manage rising gasoline prices. This macro development is a highly bullish indicator for the Chinese electric vehicles industry, signaling a shift in the energy landscape. The government's intervention in oil prices highlights the growing energy crisis and its potential to accelerate the adoption of EVs in the china ev market.Nord Security Products:NordVPN: ⁠https://go.nordvpn.net/aff_c?offer_id=15&aff_id=143053&url_id=902⁠ NordPass: ⁠https://go.nordpass.io/aff_c?offer_id=488&aff_id=143053&url_id=9356⁠

People are saying NIO's Shenji chip beats Nvidia by multiples. I just spent four days at Nvidia GTC watching Jensen Huang lay out the future of autonomous driving — and I need to set the record straight.The comparison being made is against Orin X. Nvidia's Orin X is two generations old. The honest comparison is Shenji against DRIVE Thor — Nvidia's current generation chip. And on raw compute, Thor wins.But here's the thing. The real Shenji story doesn't need to beat Nvidia to be one of the most compelling technology plays in the Chinese EV space right now. I'm going to show you exactly why.I'm a NIO bull. You know that. But credibility means being honest when the narrative needs a correction. Full breakdown today.Nord Security Products:NordVPN: ⁠https://go.nordvpn.net/aff_c?offer_id=15&aff_id=143053&url_id=902⁠ NordPass: ⁠https://go.nordpass.io/aff_c?offer_id=488&aff_id=143053&url_id=9356⁠

I just walked through my front door after five days in San Jose for Nvidia GTC. On the way out I drove past NIO's North American headquarters — saw the EP9, saw the team working inside.I came home to one of the most significant weeks in Chinese EV history.NIO posted its first ever quarterly profit. Today Xpeng posted its first ever net profit — 380 million yuan, gross margin at 21.3%, up nearly 7 percentage points year over year. Two Chinese EV startups hitting profitability in the same month for the first time ever.Meanwhile China's March EV sales are rebounding to an estimated 900,000 units — nearly double February's numbers. The demand was always there.And there's a fascinating picks and shovels story developing in the battery industry that actually makes the bull case for NIO stronger than most people realize.Full breakdown today — fresh off the plane.Nord Security Products:* NordVPN: ⁠https://go.nordvpn.net/aff_c?offer_id=15&aff_id=143053&url_id=902⁠* NordPass: ⁠https://go.nordpass.io/aff_c?offer_id=488&aff_id=143053&url_id=9356⁠

BMW, Mercedes, and Audi simultaneously replaced their China leadership — executives with 12 year tenures all shown the door within weeks of each other. Mercedes dealers openly revolted. Audi dealerships are losing money on every car they sell. Meanwhile NIO just hit 80,000 deliveries on the ES8 and signed a major ecosystem partnership with Tuhu, China's largest auto service platform covering 150 million users. Obi breaks down what the German leadership purge actually signals, why oil approaching $100 a barrel is a tailwind for Chinese EVs specifically, and what a new solid state battery announcement capable of 1,200 kilometers on a single charge means for the race ahead. Recorded live from San Jose during Nvidia GTC week.Nord Security Products:NordVPN: ⁠https://go.nordvpn.net/aff_c?offer_id=15&aff_id=143053&url_id=902⁠ • • NordPass: ⁠https://go.nordpass.io/aff_c?offer_id=488&aff_id=143053&url_id=9356⁠

In this episode of Double Tap Mainstream, Steven Scott and Shaun Preece welcome Jon Lamont, Editor-in-Chief at MobileSyrup, to discuss the week's biggest tech headlines in Canada and beyond. We dive into the Pixel 10A leaks, including its expected Tensor G4 processor, camera comparisons to the Pro model, and why Google's A-series phones remain unbeatable for value. The conversation shifts to the state of 8K TVs, with LG pulling back production as demand stalls and 4K content remains king. We also cover Valve's Steam hardware delays caused by global memory shortages, driven largely by AI demand. Cybersecurity expert Karolis Arbaciauskas from NordPass joins to explain the emerging phenomenon of AI agents running themselves online, like Open Claw and the Malt Book social network, and the severe security risks of running these agents on your devices. Finally, we explore Intel's new Panther Lake chips, Windows-on-ARM progress, and the ongoing battle for battery life and performance in laptops.If you enjoyed this deep dive into the latest tech news, subscribe to Double Tap, leave a review, and share your thoughts in the comments. For feedback or questions, email feedback@doubletaponair.com or send a voice note via WhatsApp to +1 613-481-0144.Relevant LinksMobileSyrup: https://mobilesyrup.comPixel 10a Obsidian ‘official' images surface onlinehttps://mobilesyrup.com/2026/02/04/pixel-10a-obsidian-images/Valve delays Steam Machine due to component shortageshttps://mobilesyrup.com/2026/02/05/valve-component-shortages-steam-machine-delay/LG has stopped making 8K TVshttps://mobilesyrup.com/2026/02/02/lg-8k-tvs/Intel breaks down Core Ultra 3 Panther Lake and who it's forhttps://mobilesyrup.com/2026/01/15/intel-breaks-down-core-ultra-3-panther-lake-and-who-its-for/Telus deploys 125km long undersea internet cablehttps://mobilesyrup.com/2026/02/05/telus-deploys-125km-undersea-cable/ Find Double Tap online: YouTube, Double Tap Website---Follow on:YouTube: https://www.doubletaponair.com/youtubeX (formerly Twitter): https://www.doubletaponair.com/xInstagram: https://www.doubletaponair.com/instagramTikTok: https://www.doubletaponair.com/tiktokThreads: https://www.doubletaponair.com/threadsFacebook: https://www.doubletaponair.com/facebookLinkedIn: https://www.doubletaponair.com/linkedin Subscribe to the Podcast:Apple: https://www.doubletaponair.com/appleSpotify: https://www.doubletaponair.com/spotifyRSS: https://www.doubletaponair.com/podcastiHeadRadio: https://www.doubletaponair.com/iheart About Double TapHosted by the insightful duo, Steven Scott and Shaun Preece, Double Tap is a treasure trove of information for anyone who's blind or partially sighted and has a passion for tech. Steven and Shaun not only demystify tech, but they also regularly feature interviews and welcome guests from the community, fostering an interactive and engaging environment. Tune in every day of the week, and you'll discover how technology can seamlessly integrate into your life, enhancing daily tasks and experiences, even if your sight is limited. "Double Tap" is a registered trademark of Double Tap Productions Inc. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.