Chinese electric vehicle (EV) trio Nio, Li Auto, and Xpeng Motors are hiring investment banks to prepare for their Hong Kong listings, Reuters reported on Monday.

Nio has contacted Credit Suisse and Morgan Stanley to offer 5 percent of its total share capital in Hong Kong, the report said, citing sources who added that Nio could also go public in China's A-share market.

Xpeng has contacted Bank of America and Morgan Stanley, while Li Auto is working with Goldman Sachs and UBS. The two are expected to complete the listing in the third quarter with an expected $1 billion to $2 billion in capital raised, the report said.

As more and more US-listed Chinese companies come to Hong Kong for secondary listings, Nio, Xpeng, and Li Auto appear to be next in line.

Earlier this month, Reuters reported that the trio plan to list in Hong Kong as soon as this year to tap an investor base closer to home.

They each aim to sell at least 5% of their enlarged share capital in Hong Kong, the report said. Based on their New York market capitalization, proceeds could total around $5 billion.

The EV makers have been working with advisors on the sales which could begin as early as mid-year, the report said, adding that the three are looking to take advantage of growing demand from prospective investors in Asia.

(Photo: CnEVPost)