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SORL Auto Parts Reports 2006 First Quarter Results

ZHEJIANG, China, May 16, 2006 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- SORL Auto Parts, Inc. , a leading manufacturer and distributor of commercial vehicle air brake valves in China, today announced its financial results for the first quarter of 2006.

  First Quarter Financial Highlights
  -- Revenue increased to US$ 19.4 million, reflecting 33.8% year-over-year
     growth;
  -- Net income increased to US$ 1.6 million, reflecting 6.8% year-over-year
     growth; and
  -- First quarter diluted earnings per share increased to US$ 0.12,
     reflecting 6.3% year-over-year growth

Revenue for the first quarter of 2006 was US$ 19.4 million, a 33.8% increase as compared to US$ 14.5 million for the same period in 2005. Revenue from sales to Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) for the first quarter of 2006 was US$ 5.8 million, a 12.1% decrease as compared to US$ 6.6 million for the first quarter of 2005. Aftermarket revenue from domestic market for the first quarter of 2006 was US$ 7.5 million, an increase of 102.7% as compared to US$ 3.7 million for the first quarter of 2005. Revenue from exports was US$ 6.1 million for the first quarter of 2006, an increase of 45.2% as compared to US$ 4.2 million for the first quarter of 2005.

Gross profit for the first quarter of 2006 was US$ 4.4 million, an increase of 36.5% as compared to US$ 3.2 million in the same period in 2005. Operating income for the first quarter of 2006 was US$ 2.4 million, an increase of 41.2% as compared to US$ 1.7 million in the same period in 2005. Net income for the first quarter of 2006 was US$ 1.6 million or US$0.12 diluted earnings per share, an increase of 6.3% as compared to net income of US$ 1.5 million or US$ 0.11 diluted earnings per share in the same period in 2005.

Xiaoping Zhang, SORL Auto Parts' Chairman and CEO, said, ''We are delighted to report our first quarter revenue and net income growth. Due to the Chinese Government's macroeconomic regulation policy, which negatively impacted the production of heavy duty trucks, the domestic OEM market remained sluggish. After a historical low in the OEM revenue in the fourth quarter of 2005, we improved our sales to the OEM customers in China in the first quarter of 2006. On the other side, with our high quality products, we continue to successfully penetrate both domestic aftermarket and export market by strengthening relations with domestic and international distributors.''

Ms Zongyun Zhou, Chief Financial Officer, said, ''Despite the rising price of raw materials, we had a slight improvement in our gross margin (from 22.2% in the first quarter of 2005 to 22.6% in the first quarter of 2006) which is due to economies of scale, shift of our sales mix and consistent efforts to optimize our production techniques. In the first quarter of 2006, we shifted the product mix and introduced more innovative valve products, which provided a higher profit margin. While accomplishing a strong top line growth, we increased the allowance for doubtful account receivables. Our SG&A expenses related to this allowance were higher in the first quarter of 2006 than in the same period in 2005. We believe that our strong relations with large state- owned OEM customers will eventually enable us to complete the collection. Due to the increase in outstanding debt to finance our working capital and new equipment purchases, the financial expense for the first quarter of 2006 increased as compared to the same period of 2005. We continue to invest in R&D and expand production to meet the growing demand for our products from both domestic and international markets.''

About SORL Auto Parts, Inc.

As China's leading manufacturer and distributor of automotive air brake valves, SORL Auto Parts, Inc. ranks first in market share in the segment for commercial vehicles weighing more than three tons, such as trucks and buses. The Company distributes products both within China and internationally under the SORL trademark. SORL ranks among the top 100 auto component suppliers in China, with a product range that includes 40 types of air brake valves and over 800 different specifications. The Company has three authorized international sales centers in Australia, United Arab Emirates, and the United States, with additional offices slated to open in other locations in the near future.

Safe Harbor Statement

Statements made in this press release that are not historical fact are ''forward-looking statements," which are based on current expectations that include a number of risks and uncertainties. Additional factors that could potentially affect the Company's financial results may be found on the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission ( http://www.sec.gov/ ).

                   SORL Auto Parts, Inc. and Subsidiaries
                      Consolidated Statements of Income
                   For Years Ended March 31, 2006 and 2005

                                                      2006 Q1     2005 Q1

    Sales                                     US$   19,419,584  14,515,866

    Cost of Sales                                   15,023,826  11,296,173

    Gross Profit                                     4,395,758   3,219,692

    Expenses:
    Selling and Distribution Expenses                  868,016     927,089
    General and Administrative Expenses              1,096,962     554,254

                            Total Expenses           1,964,978   1,481,343

    Operating Income                                 2,430,780   1,738,349

    Financial Expenses                                 265,547      60,452

    Other  Expenses                                     89,675       9,153

    Income (Loss) Before Provision for Income
    Taxes                                            2,075,558   1,668,745

    Provision for Income Taxes                         293,608          --

    Net Income Before Minority Interest &
     Other Comprehensive Income               US$    1,781,950   1,668,745

    Minority Interest                                  178,195     166,875

    Net Income Attributable to Shareholders          1,603,755   1,501,870

    Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment            126,705          --

    Minority Interest's Share                           12,671          --

    Comprehensive Income (Loss)                      1,717,789   1,501,870

    Weighted average common share - Basic           13,346,555  13,285,867

    Weighted average common share - Diluted         13,347,138  13,285,867

    EPS - Basic                                           0.12        0.11

    EPS - Diluted                                         0.12        0.11

                         Consolidated Balance Sheets
                     Mar 31, 2006 and December 31, 2005

    Assets                                         March 31,  December 31,
                                                     2006         2005
                                                  (Unaudited)   (Audited)
  Current Assets
    Cash and cash equivalents               US$     1,153,781      961,131
    Account receivables, net of provision          28,673,136   25,339,774
    Notes receivables                               2,156,920    1,488,104
    Inventory                                       1,134,773    2,512,583
    Prepayments                                     1,321,678    1,801,829
    Other current assets                              510,474       48,115
         Total Current Assets                      34,950,762   32,151,536

  Fixed Assets
    Property, plant and equipment                  10,423,487   10,140,947
    Construction In progress                           88,276           --
    Less: Accumulated depreciation                 (3,287,358)  (3,024,281)
         Fixed Assets, Net                          7,224,405    7,116,666

  Other Assets
    Deferred compensation cost-stock options          173,934           --

    Intangible assets                                  44,590       44,297
    Less: Accumulated amortization                    (13,790)     (11,873)
         Intangible Assets, Net                        30,800       32,424

         Total Other Assets                           204,734       32,424

    Total Assets                            US$    42,379,901   39,300,626

    Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity

  Current Liabilities
    Accounts payable and  Notes Payable     US$     5,349,133    3,485,987
    Deposit received from customers                 1,081,277    1,324,085
    Short term bank loans                          14,511,114   16,026,717
    Accrued expenses                                  641,023      482,982
    Other current liabilities                         989,617      260,679
         Total Current Liabilities                 22,572,165   21,580,450

  Long-Term Liabilities
    Long term bank loans                                   --           --
    Other long term liabilities                            --           --
         Total Liabilities                         22,572,165   21,580,450

  Minority Interest                                 1,926,684    1,735,818

  Shareholders' Equity
    Common stock, $0.002 par value,
    50,000,000 authorized,                             26,693       26,693
    13,346,555 issued and outstanding at
    03/31/2006 and
    12/31/2005
    Paid in capital                                 4,623,022    4,444,118
    Accumulated other comprehensive (loss)            451,028      336,993
    Retained earnings                              12,780,309   11,176,554
                                                   17,881,052   15,984,358

    Total Liabilities and Shareholders'     US$
    Equity                                         42,379,901   39,300,626

  For more information, please contact:

   David Ming He
   SORL Auto Parts, Inc.
   Tel:   +86-577-6581-7720
   Email: davidhe@sorl.com.cn

   Christopher Chu
   The Global Consulting Group
   Tel:   +1-646-284-9426
   Email: cchu@hfgcg.com