Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]

(b) Use of estimates

The preparation of the consolidated financial statements in accordance with US GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, related disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the balance sheet date, and the reported revenues and expenses during the reported periods in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Significant accounting estimates include, but not limited to, assessment for impairment of long-term investments, long-lived assets and intangible assets, write-down for inventories, allowance for expected credit loss, warrant liabilities, as well as the realization of deferred income tax assets. Changes in facts and circumstances may result in revised estimates. Actual results could differ from those estimates, and as such, differences may be material to the consolidated financial statements.

Restricted cash

(d) Restricted cash

Restricted cash consists of litigation frozen deposits.

Inventories

(f) Inventories

Inventories, consisting of smart electric vehicles and auto parts and materials purchased by the Group, are stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value, with net realized value represented by estimated selling prices in the ordinary course of business, less reasonably predictable costs of disposal and transportation. Cost of inventory is determined using the weighted average cost method. Adjustments are recorded to write down the cost of inventory to the estimated net realizable value due to slow-moving merchandise and damaged products, which is dependent upon factors such as historical and forecasted consumer demand, as well as the aging of inventory.

Intangible assets, net

(h) Intangible assets, net

Intangible assets are carried at cost less accumulated amortization and any recorded impairment. Intangible assets are amortized using the straight-line approach over the estimated economic useful lives of the assets as follows:

Category		Estimated useful lives
Software		2 years
Trademark		10 years

Long term investment

(j) Long term investment

Equity investments accounted for using the equity method

The Group applies the equity method of accounting to equity investments, in common stock or in-substance common stock, over which it has significant influence but does not own a majority equity interest or otherwise control. Under the equity method, the Group initially records its investment at cost. The difference between the cost of the equity investment and the amount of the underlying equity in the net assets of the equity investee is recognized as equity method goodwill or as an intangible asset as appropriate, which is included in the equity method investment on the consolidated balance sheets. The Group subsequently adjusts the carrying amount of the investment to recognize the Group’s proportionate share of each equity investee’s net income or loss into consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss after the date of investing.

Equity investments without readily determinable fair values

The Group’s equity investments without readily determinable fair values, which do not qualify for the existing practical expedient in ASC Topic 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures (“ASC 820”), to estimate fair value using the net asset value per share (or its equivalent) of the investment (“NAV practical expedient”), and over which the Group does not have the ability to exercise significant influence through the investments in common stock or in substance common stock, are accounted for under the measurement alternative upon the adoption of ASU 2016-01 (the “Measurement Alternative”). Under the Measurement Alternative, the carrying value is measured at cost, less any impairment, plus or minus changes resulting from observable price changes in orderly transactions for identical or similar investments of the same issuer. All gains and losses on these investments, realized and unrealized, are recognized in the combined statements of operations and comprehensive loss.

The Group makes assessment of whether an investment is impaired based on the performance and financial position of the investee as well as other evidence of market value at each reporting date.

Such assessment includes, but is not limited to, reviewing the investee’s cash position, recent financing, as well as the financial and business performance. The Group recognizes an impairment loss equal to the difference between the carrying value and fair value in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss if any.

Current expected credit loss

(l) Current expected credit loss

On January 1, 2023, the Group adopted ASC 326, Financial Instruments—Credit Losses, which requires recognition of allowances upon origination or acquisition of financial assets at an estimate of expected credit losses over the contractual term of the financial assets (the current expected credit loss or the “CECL” model) using the modified retrospective transition method.

The Group’s financial assets subject to the CECL model mainly include accounts receivable, amounts due from related parties and prepaid expenses and other current and non-current assets.

For accounts receivable, the Group estimates the loss rate based on historical experience, the age of the receivable balances, credit quality of its customers, current economic conditions, reasonable and supportable forecasts of future economic conditions, and other factors that may affect its ability to collect from customers. For advances to suppliers, amounts due from related parties and prepaid expenses and other current assets, we review them on a periodic basis and make allowances on an individual basis when there is doubt as to the collectability. These amounts are written off after all collection efforts have been exhausted.

For the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, allowance for expected credit losses made by the Group were shown as follows:

	For the years ended December 31,
	2024		2023		2022
Allowance for expected credit losses for accounts receivable, current	$	1,493	$	3,937	$	-
Allowance for expected credit losses for advance to suppliers		649		42,478		-
Allowance for expected credit losses for prepaid expenses and other current assets		3,016		20,187		-
Allowance for expected credit losses for amounts due from related parties		60,495		15,000		-
Allowance for expected credit losses for accounts receivable, non-current		-		3,829		-
Total	$	65,653	$	85,431	$	-

Commitments and contingencies

(n) Commitments and contingencies

In the normal course of business, the Group is subject to commitments and contingencies, including operating lease commitments, legal proceedings and claims arising out of its business that relate to a wide range of matters, such as government investigations and tax matters. The Group recognizes a liability for such contingency if it determines it is probable that a loss has occurred and a reasonable estimate of the loss can be made. The Group may consider many factors in making these assessments on liability for contingencies, including historical and the specific facts and circumstances of each matter.

Warranties

(p) Warranties

The Group provides a one-year manufacturer’s standard warranty on all vehicles sold. The Group accrues a warranty reserve for the vehicles sold by the Group, which includes the Group’s best estimate of the future costs to be incurred in order to repair or replace items under warranties and recalls when identified. These estimates were made based on actual claims incurred to date and an estimate of the nature, frequency and magnitude of future claims with reference made to the past claim history. These estimates are inherently uncertain given the Group’s relatively short history of sales, and changes to the Group’s historical or projected warranty experience may cause material changes to the warranty reserve in the future. The warranty reserve is expected to be incurred within the next 12 months and included within accrued expenses and other liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets. Warranty expense is recorded as a component of cost of sales in the consolidated statements of comprehensive loss.

The Group does not consider standard warranty as being a separate performance obligation as it is intended to provide greater quality assurance to customers and is not viewed as a distinct obligation. Accordingly, standard warranty is accounted for in accordance with ASC 460, Guarantees.

Research and development expenses

(r) Research and development expenses

Research and development expenses consist primarily of design and development expenses with new technology, payroll and related expenses for research and development professionals, materials and supplies and other R&D related expenses. Research and development expenses are expensed as incurred.

Selling and marketing expenses

(t) Selling and marketing expenses

Selling and marketing expenses mainly consist of marketing, promotional and advertising expenses. The advertising expenses were US$0.8 million, US$5.7 million and US$0.9 million for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively.

Employee benefits

(v) Employee benefits

The Company’s subsidiaries in PRC participate in a government mandated, multiemployer, defined contribution plan, pursuant to which certain retirement, medical, housing and other welfare benefits are provided to employees. PRC labor laws require the entities incorporated in the PRC to pay to the local labor bureau a monthly contribution calculated at a stated contribution rate on the monthly basic compensation of qualified employees. The Group has no further commitments beyond its monthly contribution. Employee social benefits included as expenses in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss amounted to US$0.8 million, US$1.8 million and US$0.9 million for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively.

Income taxes

(x) Income taxes

The Group accounts for income taxes under ASC 740. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the consolidated financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases.

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period including the enactment date. Valuation allowances are established, when necessary, to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount expected to be realized. Current income taxes are provided for in accordance with the laws of the relevant taxing authorities.

The provisions of ASC 740-10-25, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes,” prescribe a more-likely-than-not threshold for consolidated financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken (or expected to be taken) in a tax return. This interpretation also provides guidance on the recognition of income tax assets and liabilities, classification of current and deferred income tax assets and liabilities, accounting for interest and penalties associated with tax positions, and related disclosures. The Group’s operating subsidiaries in PRC are subject to examination by the relevant tax authorities. According to the PRC Tax Administration and Collection Law, the statute of limitations is three years if the underpayment of taxes is due to computational errors made by the taxpayer or the withholding agent. The statute of limitations is extended to five years under special circumstances, where the underpayment of taxes is more than RMB 100,000 ($13,700). In the case of transfer pricing issues, the statute of limitation is ten years. There is no statute of limitation in the case of tax evasion. Penalties and interest incurred related to underpayment of income tax are classified as income tax expense in the period incurred.

The Group accrued income tax payable of US$9 as of December 31, 2024 and 2023. The Group did not accrue any liability, interest or penalties related to uncertain tax positions in its provision for income taxes line of its consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022 respectively. The Group does not expect that its assessment regarding unrecognized tax positions will materially change over the next 12 months.

Loss per share

(z) Loss per share

Basic loss per share is computed by dividing net loss attributable to ordinary shareholders, taking into consideration the deemed dividends to preferred shareholders (if any), by the weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding during the year using the two-class method. Under the two-class method, net income is allocated between ordinary shares and other participating securities based on their participating rights. Shares issuable for little to no consideration upon the satisfaction of certain conditions are considered as outstanding shares and included in the computation of basic loss per share as of the date that all necessary conditions have been satisfied. Net losses are not allocated to other participating securities if based on their contractual terms they are not obligated to share the losses.

Diluted loss per share is calculated by dividing net loss attributable to ordinary shareholders, as adjusted for the effect of dilutive ordinary equivalent shares, if any, by the weighted average number of ordinary and dilutive ordinary equivalent shares outstanding during the year. Ordinary equivalent shares consist of ordinary shares issuable upon the conversion of the preferred shares, using the if-converted method, and shares issuable upon the exercise of share options using the treasury stock method. Ordinary equivalent shares are not included in the denominator of the diluted loss per share calculation when inclusion of such share would be anti-dilutive.

Recent accounting pronouncements

(bb) Recent accounting pronouncements

The Group is an “emerging growth company” (“EGC”) as defined in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 (the “JOBS Act”). Under the JOBS Act, EGC can delay adopting new or revised accounting standards issued subsequent to the enactment of the JOBS Act until such time as those standards apply to private companies.

In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-09, Improvement to Income Tax Disclosure. This standard requires more transparency about income tax information through improvements to income tax disclosures primarily related to the rate reconciliation and income taxes paid information. This standard also includes certain other amendments to improve the effectiveness of income tax disclosures. ASU 2023-09 is effective for public business entities, for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2024. For entities other than public business entities, the amendments are effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2025. The Group is in the process of evaluating the impact of adopting this new guidance on its consolidated financial statement.

In November 2024, the FASB issued ASU No. 2024-03, Disaggregation of Income Statement Expenses (Subtopic 220-40). The ASU requires the disaggregated disclosure of specific expense categories, including purchases of inventory, employee compensation, depreciation, and amortization, within relevant income statement captions. This ASU also requires disclosure of the total amount of selling expenses along with the definition of selling expenses. The ASU is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2026, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2027. Adoption of this ASU can either be applied prospectively to consolidated financial statements issued for reporting periods after the effective date of this ASU or retrospectively to any or all prior periods presented in the consolidated financial statements. Early adoption is also permitted. This ASU will result in the required additional disclosures being included in the consolidated financial statements, once adopted. The Group is in the process of evaluating the impact of adopting this new guidance on its consolidated financial statement.

Other accounting standards that have been issued by FASB that do not require adoption until a future date are not expected to have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements upon adoption. The Group does not discuss recent standards that are not anticipated to have an impact on or are unrelated to its consolidated financial condition, results of operations, cash flows or disclosures.