Sentiment Analysis of the earnings transcript to help figure out if there are any bullish or bearish sentiments that could be gathered from it. We're doing ML and AI based analysis on the earnings call to get some more insights.
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| Statement |
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| This is what will enable our business model to have lower go-forward customer acquisition costs and scale operating profits rapidly with higher volumes |
| Number three, improve operating leverage through the software revenue stream |
| The ability to strategically and opportunistically raise money via ATMs, positions, MicroVision very favorably as compared to our peers, some of which have had to resort to structured finance transactions to raise capital at significant discounts to their stock price |
| The resulting economies of scale would be expected to add significantly more revenue with limited addition to R&D expense, thereby translating into faster going operating profits |
| We have the technology, lead with our products and the opportunity for strong gross margin, and I would say, will last for a long time |
| Number two, run a lean business with strong balance sheet that is scalable |
| The OEMs are striving to command pricing that is attractive to the end customers with advanced ADAS and LiDAR enabled safety features in the upcoming models |
| and Germany and a strong balance sheet |
| So we have great upside there |
| We do not want to do that, because I think you mentioned, you heard from us that we want to make sure that gross margin profile remains impressive, because we really want to be a high-growth LiDAR tier, which is valued typically as a hardware-software business, and to do that, it's very important to pursue the right kind of projects, and we do not want to commit the same mistakes some of the others have done |
| We believe that with our current cash on hand and our ATM facility, we are well situated to deliver to OEMs |
| While I cannot share out exact plans, what I will say is we have shown a very disciplined history of capital raising, the ability to strategically and opportunistically raise money via ATMs position us very favorably as compared to our peers |
| So I would argue very strongly, and I think, and I really believe that most of the investors would agree with me after reflection, this is the best place to be |
| With our first commercial wins within reach and key focus on nominations, we are strongly marching towards pivoting to the market, our value proposition as a unique, well-positioned, Tier 1 LiDAR company in large and growing automotive and non-automotive markets |
| This is a big deal for LiDAR products as this will enable us to monetize our perception software to a software license mechanism that will increase contribution margin |
| This is the best opportunity this company's ever had in its history |
| I would say we're in the best shape |
| To summarize, we're really excited about 2024 and beyond |
| From a gross margin profile, the momentum continued |
| Again, I keep driving the point of having a gross margins because again, one of the reasons why we have been successful and command such a position in the market is because of being financially prudent and having a strategy to make sure the gross margins are protected, capital raising is done right |
| Our financial discipline of having a burn rate between 65 million to 70 million a year is one of our greatest strengths, especially during the times when our competition has finally realized the importance of financial prudence, having raised three quarters of a billion dollars and burning through half of it in just two years |
| But having said that, we believe there continues to be a strong demand for LiDAR products evidenced by several RFQs in place as described by Sumit earlier |
| Customers are going to want highest technology LiDAR with a high level of perception software integrated at cost, that in the hundreds of dollars for sensor and pay additional for perception software license, which translates to high contribution margins |
| The seismic change of advanced sensors being added to passenger vehicles is real and continues as evidenced by the high-volume opportunities in these RFQs |
| And I think this is sort of why we believe that we will be one of the winners in this LiDAR industry because of these attributes |
| In conclusion, our positive securing nominations requires us to navigate all these changes and get OEMs comfortable with our capability to deliver on passenger vehicle programs at the LiDAR Tier 1 |
| The software landscape has changed and competitors have invested in development that are not relevant, while MicroVision has an advantage with our sensor embedded perception software ready with mature KPIs |
| The highest volume opportunity is for MOVIA-S product |
| Autonomous trucking remains as one real opportunity for autonomy, but this would be a low-volume business at best, important support, but not the core path to profitability |
| We're beginning to see medium to long-term partnerships with significant multi-year revenue opportunities even in the industrial sector, especially in forklifts and warehouse automation applications |
| Statement |
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| LiDAR companies that got early nominations raised a lot of money on promises and failed to deliver to OEM programs in even low-volume scenarios |
| Now development NRE here and there may add short-term revenue, and some of the peers are choosing to take these projects with small volumes, again, to each their own, and we have seen these LiDAR companies suffer negative margins and pressure because of that |
| But again, it's a problem that is a pretty big problem that those guys are working on |
| The lack of established Tier 1 presence, in turn, has influenced OEMs as they have to move their internal production timelines to the right, as well, especially after some of the early LiDAR winners failed to deliver on their commitments |
| I think you have seen in the past some of the peers had to resort to structured finance, overnight deals at significant discounts, damaging the stock price even until now |
| This has slowed down the sale of Mosaic as a validation software too |
| Across the board, we believe automotive OEMs are witnessing historically high levels of inventory coupled with the rising interest rate environments causing OEMs to be a bit more cautious in taking on new projects and moving timelines to the right |
| Number one, the problem of solving for full autonomy L4 and above is significantly more challenging and expensive to execute than all the hype built up over the past several years |
| Number two, OEMs are also under significant pressure on their transition from ICE, which is internal combustion engines, to EV products due to the hyper competitive price wars, which are a direct result of the high interest rate environments and market share expansion battles |
| Auto OEMs, Tier 1s and ADAS companies, in particular LiDAR companies, have been under a lot of pressure lately |
| This has also led to the collapse of a few LiDAR companies and the ongoing consolidation of the industry in the past 18 months |
| Anything that goes into cars in China, first of all, we'd have to go through a lot of regulatory hurdles before they're allowed to ship into Europe and North America |
| Is this a continuing trend with RFQs and other business opportunities as the EV space has seemed to cool off lately? Shareholders recognize the state of these other industries, raising questions |
| But for the right volume deal, we plan to take such risks |
| This business problem for OEMs translates into the high demand for LiDAR sensors to enable L2 plus L3 features for ADAS safety at lower prices with more mature technology |
| Even if I'm giving a product that's lower profile, lower power, the questions are, hey, can you make it bigger so it can fit in this hole? So clearly what others are saying is not getting delivered, and we have to navigate that |
| This has muddied the water a bit for any company involved in the new RFQ, including incumbents, but we have a level playing field moving forward in all RFQs |
| In the past, the need to support L4 features drove software development, which is significantly more expensive and not easy to deliver as a qualified product |
| Based on what we have seen, there is nothing slowing down the demand for high-tech, low-cost LiDAR sensors for the future |
| The OEMs are being extra cautious, spending more time and efforts on thorough diligence before picking their LiDAR suppliers, or replacing existing ones in case of non-performance |
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