Concentration, Credit and Other Risks

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2020

Concentration, Credit and Other Risks

Concentration, Credit and Other Risks

Note 19.    Concentration, Credit and Other Risks

(a) PRC Regulations

The EV industry is relatively new in China, and the PRC government has not adopted a clear regulatory framework to regulate the industry. Therefore, there is some degree of uncertainty regarding the regulatory requirements of the PRC government in the EV industry. If the PRC government enacts new laws and regulations, or adopts new interpretations or policies with respect to the current laws and regulations, that require licenses or permits for the operation of the Company’s existing or future businesses, the Company cannot ensure that it has all the permits or licenses required for its EV business or that the Company will be able to obtain or maintain permits or licenses in a timely manner.

(b) Concentration of Credit Risks

Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to significant concentration of credit risk primarily consist of cash and accounts receivable. As of September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, the Company’s cash was held by financial institutions (located in the PRC, Hong Kong, the United States, Malaysia and Singapore) that management believes have acceptable credit. Accounts receivable are typically unsecured. The risk with respect to accounts receivable is mitigated by regular credit evaluations that the Company performs on its distribution partners and its ongoing monitoring of outstanding balances.

(c) Foreign Currency Risks

A majority of the Company's operating transactions  are denominated in RMB and a significant  portion of the Company’s assets and liabilities is denominated in RMB. RMB is not freely convertible into foreign currencies. The value of the RMB is subject to changes in the central government policies and to international economic and political developments. In the

PRC, certain foreign exchange transactions are required by laws to be transacted only by authorized financial institutions at exchange rates set by the People’s Bank of China (“PBOC”). Remittances in currencies other than RMB by the Company in China must be processed through PBOC or other China foreign exchange regulatory bodies which require certain supporting documentation in order to complete the remittance.

Cash consist of cash on hand and demand deposits at banks, which are unrestricted as to withdrawal and which includes $0.2 million which was received in advance of a future investment.

Time deposits, which mature within one year as of the balance sheet date, represent interest-bearing certificates of deposit with an initial term of greater than three months when purchased. Time deposits which mature over one year as of the balance sheet date are included in non-current assets.