China Automotive Systems Reports 2019 Second Quarter Unaudited Financial Results

WUHAN,China,Aug. 8,2019 --China Automotive Systems,Inc. ("CAAS" or the "Company") (NASDAQ: CAAS),a leading power steering components and systems supplier in China,today announced its unaudited financial results for the second quarter and six months ended June 30,2019.

Second Quarter 2019 Highlights

Net sales decreased 15.9% to $105.7 million from $125.8 million in the second quarter of 2018;

Gross profit declined 10.8% to $15.2 million and the gross margin increased to 14.4% from 13.5% in the second quarter of 2018;

Income from operations increased 369.2% to $2.7 million with an operating margin of 2.6% compared with $0.6 million and an operating margin of 0.5% in the second quarter of 2018;

Net income attributable to parent company's common shareholders increased to $2.5 million or diluted earnings per share of $0.08,compared to net income attributable to parent company's common shareholders of $0.8 million,or diluted earnings per share of $0.03,in the second quarter of 2018.

First Six Months of 2019 Highlights

Net sales decreased 17.3% to $214.9 million,compared to $259.8 million in the first six months of 2018;

Gross profit decreased to $29.2 million,compared to $38.7 million in the first six months of 2018; gross margin decreased to 13.6% in the first six months of 2019,compared to 14.9% in the first six months of 2018;

Income from operations decreased to $3.8 million from $5.2 million with an operating margin of 1.8% compared with 2.0% in the second quarter of 2018;

Net income attributable to parent company's common shareholders was $4.0 million compared to $5.2 million in the first six months of 2018; diluted earnings per share attributable to parent company's common shareholders was $0.13,compared to diluted earnings per share attributable to parent company's common shareholders of $0.16 in the first six months of 2018.

Mr. Qizhou Wu,chief executive officer of CAAS,commented,"Our sales in the second quarter of 2019 reflected the slowing economy in China and softer consumer spending.As a leading supplier of steering products to the Chinese automobile market,our sales are affected by the performance of the OEM market. Automobile production has been disrupted by a pre-buy of less expensive National V-compliant vehicles before the stricter National VI emission standards are nationally implemented.Chinese-branded passenger vehicle sales declined by 27.9% year-over-year in April 2019 followed by a decline in May 2019 of 28.1% year-over-year.We anticipate that our new product development with Hyoseong Electric Co. Ltd. to sell electric motors for electric power steering systems,and a new development program for a recirculating-ball steering system with a major client's autonomous vehicle development,will offer new growth opportunities for the future. We continue to build advanced steering products and broaden our product line to meet the needs of the marketplace and ensure our leadership position."

Second Quarter of 2019

In the second quarter of 2019,net sales decreased 15.9% to $105.7 million,compared to $125.8 million in the same quarter of 2018. Net sales of traditional steering products declined by 15.9% as demand weakened in the Chinese domestic brand automobile market.Additionally,Company's sales to its North American customers declined by $1.1 million. Sales of electric power steering ("EPS") represented 21.4% of total net sales.

Gross profit decreased to $15.2 million in the second quarter of 2019,compared to $17.0 million in the second quarter of 2018. The gross margin was 14.4% in the second quarter of 2019,versus 13.5% in the second quarter of 2018. The gross profit decrease was mainly due to lower sales,higher unit cost and a change in product mix.

Gain on other sales was $2.5 million in the second quarter of 2019,compared to $1.0 million in the second quarter of 2018.

Selling expenses were $3.9 million in the second quarter of 2019,compared to $4.9 million in the second quarter of 2018. The decrease was mainly due to lower logistics expenses related to decreased sales during the quarter. Selling expenses represented 3.7% of net sales in the second quarter of 2019 compared with 3.9% in the second quarter of 2018.

General and administrative expenses ("G&A expenses") were $4.4 million in the second quarter of each of 2019 and 2018. G&A expenses represented 4.2% of net sales in the second quarter of 2019 compared to 3.5% in the second quarter of 2018. The percentage increase was mainly due to reduced sales in the second quarter of 2019.

Research and development expenses ("R&D expenses") decreased 18.5% to $6.6 million in the second quarter of 2019,compared to $8.1 million in the second quarter of 2018.R&D expenses continue to focus on the development of the Company's EPS and other new products. R&D expenses represented 6.2% of sales in the second quarter of 2019,compared with 6.4% in the second quarter of 2018.

Income from operations was $2.7 million in the second quarter of 2019,compared to $0.6 million in the same quarter of 2018. The increase was primarily due to a higher gain on other sales and lower operating costs. As a percentage of net sales,the operating margin was 2.6% in the second quarter of 2019,compared to 0.5% in the second quarter of 2018.

Net financial income in the second quarter of 2019 was $1.6 million compared with $0.9 million in the second quarter of 2018.

Income before income tax expenses and equity in earnings of affiliated companies increased 143.5% to $3.1 million in the second quarter of 2019,compared to $1.3 million in the second quarter of 2018.

Net income attributable to parent company's common shareholders increased 196.3% to $2.5 million in the second quarter of 2019,compared to net income attributable to parent company's common shareholders of $0.8 million in the corresponding quarter of 2018. Diluted earnings per share were $0.08 in the second quarter of 2019,compared to diluted earnings per share of $0.03 in the second quarter of 2018.The weighted average number of diluted common shares outstanding was 31,499,577 in the second quarter of 2019,compared to 31,647,305 in the second quarter of 2018.

First Six Months of 2019

Net sales decreased 17.3% to $214.9 million in the first six months of 2019,compared to $259.8 million in the first six months of 2018. Six-month gross profit was $29.2 million,compared to $38.7 million in the corresponding period last year. Six-month gross margin was 13.6% in the first six months of 2019 compared to 14.9% in the corresponding period in 2018. The gain on other sales was $3.8 million in the first six months of 2019 compared with $2.5 million in the corresponding period last year. Income from operations was $3.8 million in the first six months of 2019,compared to $5.2 million in the first six months of 2018.Operating margin was 1.8% in the first six months of 2019,compared to 2.0% in the corresponding period of 2018.

Net income attributable to parent company's common shareholders was $4.0 million in the first six months of 2019,compared to $5.2 million in the corresponding period in 2018.Diluted earnings per share were $0.13 in the first six months of 2019,compared to diluted earnings per share of $0.16 in the corresponding period of 2018.

As of June 30,2019,cash and equivalents,and pledged cash were $89.1 million. Total accounts receivable including notes receivable were $255.1 million. Accounts payable were $184.1 million and short-term loans were $71.0 million. Total parent company stockholders' equity was $308.5 million as of June 30,compared to $304.8 million as of December 31,2018.

Net cash used in operating activities was $25.7 million in the first six months of 2019 compared with net cash used in operating activities of $5.4 million in the first six months of 2018. Payments to acquire property,plant and equipment were $10.3 million compared with $17.3 million in the first six months of 2018.

Business Outlook

Management revised its revenue guidance for the full year 2019 to $430 million from US$510 million. This target is based on the Company's current views on operating and market conditions,which are subject to change.

Unaudited Second Quarter 2019 Conference Call

Management will conduct a conference call on August 8,2019 at 8:00 A.M. EDT/8:00 P.M. Beijing Time to discuss these results. A question and answer session will follow management's presentation. To participate,please call the following numbers 10 minutes before the call start time and ask to be connected to the "China Automotive Systems" conference call:

Phone Number: +1-877-407-8031 (North America)

Phone Number: +1-201-689-8031 (International)

China Toll Free: +86-400-120-2840

A replay of the call will be available on the Company's website in the investor relations section.

About China Automotive Systems,Inc.

Based in Hubei Province,the People's Republic of China,China Automotive Systems,Inc. is a leading supplier of power steering components and systems to the Chinese automotive industry,operating through nine Sino-foreign joint ventures. The Company offers a full range of steering system parts for passenger automobiles and commercial vehicles. The Company currently offers four separate series of power steering with an annual production capacity of over 6 million sets of steering gears,columns and steering hoses. Its customer base is comprised of leading auto manufacturers,such as China FAW Group,Corp.,Dongfeng Auto Group Co.,Ltd.,BYD Auto Company Limited,Beiqi Foton Motor Co.,Ltd. and Chery Automobile Co.,Ltd. in China,and Chrysler Group LLC in North America. For more information,please visit: http://www.caasauto.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains statements that are "forward-looking statements" as defined under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements represent our estimates and assumptions only as of the date of this press release. These forward-looking statements include statements regarding the qualitative and quantitative effects of the accounting errors,the periods involved,the nature of the Company's review and any anticipated conclusions of the Company or its management and other statements that are not historical facts. Our actual results may differ materially from the results described in or anticipated by our forward-looking statements due to certain risks and uncertainties. As a result,the Company's actual results could differ materially from those contained in these forward-looking statements due to a number of factors,including those described under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company's Form 10-K annual report filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 28,and in documents subsequently filed by the Company from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We expressly disclaim any duty to provide updates to any forward-looking statements made in this press release,whether as a result of new information,future events or otherwise.

For further information,please contact:

Jie Li

Chief Financial Officer

China Automotive Systems,Inc.

Email: jieli@chl.com.cn

Kevin Theiss

Investor Relations

+1-212-521-4050

Email: Kevin@awakenlab.com

-- tables follow –

China Automotive Systems,Inc. and Subsidiaries

Condensed Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income

(In thousands of USD,except share and per share amounts)

ThreeMonthsEndedJune 30,

2019

2018

Net product sales ($14,310and $10,856sold to related parties for the three

months ended June 30,2019 and 2018)

$

105,748

$

125,782

Cost of products sold ($6,130and $7,428purchased from related parties for

the three months ended June 30,2019 and 2018)

90,563

108,761

Gross profit

15,185

17,021

Gain on other sales

2,485

977

Less: Operating expenses

Selling expenses

3,859

4,887

General and administrative expenses

4,434

4,442

Research and development expenses

6,637

8,085

Total operating expenses

14,930

17,414

Income from operations

2,740

584

Other (expense)/income,net

(447)

600

Interest expense

(731)

(801)

Financial income,net

1,552

897

Income before income tax expenses and equity in earnings of affiliated

companies

3,114

1,280

Less: Income taxes

674

202

Equity in loss of affiliated companies

(207)

(82)

Net income

2,233

996

Net (loss)/gain attributable to non-controlling interests

(277)

149

Net income attributable to parent company's common shareholders

$

2,510

$

847

Comprehensive income:

Net income

$

2,233

$

996

Other comprehensive income:

Foreign currency translation loss,net of tax

(6,881)

(17,467)

Comprehensive loss

(4,648)

(16,471)

Comprehensive loss attributable to non-controlling interests

(776)

(431)

Comprehensive loss attributable to parent company

$

(3,872)

$

(16,040)

Net income attributable to parent company's common shareholders per share

Basic -

$

0.08

$

0.03

Diluted -

$

0.08

$

0.03

Weighted average number of common shares outstanding

Basic

31,497,723

31,644,004

Diluted

31,577

31,305

China Automotive Systems,except share and per share amounts)

Six MonthsEndedJune 30,

2019

2018

Net product sales ($27,146and $21,702sold to related parties for the six months

ended June 30,2019 and 2018)

$

214,941

$

259,800

Cost of products sold ($11,634 and $15,677purchased from related parties for the six

months ended June 30,2019 and 2018)

185,711

221,140

Gross profit

29,230

38,660

Gain on other sales

3,754

2,490

Less: Operating expenses

Selling expenses

6,944

10,714

General and administrative expenses

9,024

8,866

Research and development expenses

13,239

16,392

Total operating expenses

29,207

35,972

Income from operations

3,777

5,178

Other income,net

960

1,221

Interest expense

(1,299)

(1,216)

Financial income,net

887

132

Income before income tax expenses and equity in earnings of affiliated companies

4,325

5,315

Less: Income taxes

872

790

Equity in earnings of affiliated companies

4

503

Net income

3,457

5,028

Net loss attributable to non-controlling interests

(520)

(131)

Net income attributable to parent company's common shareholders

$

3,977

$

5,159

Comprehensive income:

Net income

$

3,457

$

5,028

Other comprehensive income:

Foreign currency translation loss,net of tax

(518)

(4,225)

Comprehensive income

2,939

803

Comprehensive loss attributable to non-controlling interests

(562)

(195)

Comprehensive income attributable to parent company

$

3,501

$

998

Net income attributable to parent company's common shareholders per share

Basic -

$

0.13

$

0.16

Diluted -

$

0.13

$

0.16

Weighted average number of common shares outstanding

Basic

31,501,889

31,505,721

31,645,655

China Automotive Systems,Inc. and Subsidiaries

Condensed Unaudited Consolidated Balance Sheets

(In thousands of USD unless otherwise indicated)

June 30,2019

December31,2018

ASSETS

Current assets:

Cash and cash equivalents

$

70,866

$

86,346

Pledged cash

18,194

29,623

Accounts and notes receivable,net - unrelated parties

225,681

237,519

Accounts and notes receivable - related parties

29,449

18,825

Inventories

90,850

88,021

Other current assets

30,880

35,094

Total current assets

465,920

495,428

Non-current assets:

Property,plant and equipment,net

142,008

129,853

Long-term investments

35,459

32,620

Other non-current assets

27,357

32,598

Total assets

$

670,744

$

690,499

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

Current liabilities:

Short-term loans

$

70,976

$

60,952

Accounts and notes payable - unrelated parties

176,118

205,643

Accounts and notes payable - related parties

8,041

4,477

Accrued expenses and other payables

43,964

47,032

Other current liabilities

21,154

23,196

Total current liabilities

320,253

341,300

Long-term liabilities:

Long-term government loan

291

291

Other long-term payable

6,905

8,726

Long-term tax payable

26,693

29,503

Other non-current liabilities

8,073

5,852

Total liabilities

$

362,215

$

385,672

Stockholders' equity:

Common stock,$0.0001 par value - Authorized- 80,000,000 shares;

Issued - 32,338,302 and 32,302 shares as of June 30,2019 and

December 31,2018,respectively

$

3

$

3

Additional paid-in capital

64,429

64,429

Retained earnings-

Appropriated

11,104

11,104

Unappropriated

215,416

211,439

Accumulated other comprehensive income

1,379

1,855

Treasury stock – 840,579and 711,698shares as of June 30,respectively

(3,295)

(2,953)

Total parent company stockholders' equity

289,036

285,877

Non-controlling interests

19,493

18,950

Total stockholders' equity

308,529

304,827

Total liabilities and stockholders' equity

$

670,499

China Automotive Systems,Inc. and Subsidiaries

Condensed Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(In thousands of USD unless otherwise indicated)

Six MonthsEndedJune 30,

2019

2018

Cash flows from operating activities:

Net income

$

3,028

Adjustments to reconcile net income from operations to net

cash provided by operating activities:

Depreciation and amortization

9,277

8,837

(Reversal)/accrual of provision for doubtful accounts

(673)

242

Inventory write downs

2,232

3,456

Deferred income taxes

(1,124)

(231)

Equity in earnings of affiliated companies

(4)

(503)

(Gain)/loss on fixed assets disposals

(733)

9

Changes in operating assets and liabilities

(Increase)/decrease in:

Accounts and notes receivable

969

6,644

Inventories

(5,526)

(16,062)

Other current assets

4,645

(1,374)

Increase/(decrease) in:

Accounts and notes payable

(31,049)

(15,574)

Accrued expenses and other payables

(3,055)

2,245

Long-term taxes payable

(2,810)

-

Other current liabilities

(1,336)

1,890

Net cash used in operating activities

(25,730)

(5,393)

Cash flows from investing activities:

Increase in demand loans and employee housing loans

included in other non-current assets

1,057

1,190

Cash received from property,plant and equipment sales

700

199

Payments to acquire property,plant and equipment (including

$2,271 and $5,694paid to related parties for the six months

ended June 30,2019 and 2018,respectively)

(10,335)

(17,299)

Payments to acquire intangible assets

(1,387)

-

Investment under equity method

(2,348)

(5,957)

Purchase of short-term investments

(17,031)

(18,502)

Proceeds from maturities of short-term investments

17,087

21,687

Government subsidy received for purchase of property,plant

and equipment

1,898

-

Cash received from long-term investment

579

-

Cash received from repayment of the loan to a related party

-

20,430

Net cash (used in)/provided by investing activities

(9,780)

1,748

Cash flows from financing activities:

Proceeds from bank loans

29,036

19,672

Repayments of bank loans

(18,910)

(35,664)

Proceeds from sale and leaseback transaction

-

11,758

Repayments of the borrowing for sale and leaseback

transaction

(2,116)

(1,125)

Dividends paid to non-controlling interest holders of non-

wholly owned subsidiaries

(333)

-

Cash received from capital contributions by non-controlling

interest holder

1,438

-

Repurchase of common shares

(342)

-

Net cash provided by/(used in) financing activities

8,773

(5,359)

Effects of exchange rate on cash,cash equivalents and pledged

cash

(172)

(1,604)

Net decrease in cash,cash equivalents and pledged

cash

(26,909)

(10,608)

Cash,cash equivalents and pledged cash at beginning of the

period

115,969

96,093

Cash,cash equivalents and pledged cash at end of the period

$

89,060

$

85,485

View original content:/news-releases/china-automotive-systems-reports-2019-second-quarter-unaudited-financial-results-300898632.html