We have been cooperating with a service provider that possesses a navigation electronic map production and surveying license. Under the cooperation, the service provider provides us with HD maps services to complement the vision of our sensors. In October 2022, in order to comply with certain regulatory development, we expanded our cooperation scope with such licensed service provider to also cover the conduction of activities that requires qualification in order to facilitate the operation of our vehicles. If our cooperation with such service provider is terminated or expire without timely renewal for any reason, and we cannot reach similar cooperation arrangements with other qualified service providers on terms acceptable to us, or at all, we may have to halt the relevant operation of our vehicles until we can obtain such licenses, if ever. Any of the foregoing may disrupt our operations and may materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. Moreover, we had historically conducted surveying and mapping in internet mapping service category and hold the relevant certificate through Guangzhou Jingqi. After the unwinding of the VIE structure in March 2023, we terminated the surveying and mapping business of Guangzhou Jingqi. We currently collaborate with Guangzhou Yuji, a service provider that possesses a navigation electronic map production and surveying license, to provide surveying and mapping services to our company. If our cooperation with Guangzhou Yuji is terminated for any reason, we may need to, based on our business needs, engage another licensed surveying and mapping service provider in China to conduct the surveying and mapping business in internet mapping service category. We cannot assure you that, if and when it becomes necessary for us to do so, we will successfully engage such service provider/expand our cooperation scope with such service provider on commercially acceptable terms and in a timely manner, or at all. Failure to do so will disrupt our business operations and negatively affect our results of operations, financial performance and prospectus.
6. Amend the first, third and fifth paragraphs of the risk factor under the heading “We are subject to export control, sanctions, trade policies and similar laws and regulations, and non-compliance of such laws, regulations, policies and administrative orders can subject us to administrative, civil and criminal fines and penalties, collateral consequences, remedial measures and legal expenses, all of which could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.” on pages 53 and 54 as follows.
Any Chinese companies or individuals targeted under U.S. economic sanctions or export control restrictions may lose access to the U.S. markets. U.S. entities and individuals may not be permitted to do business with sanctioned companies and individuals, and other international enterprises may as a matter of law and/or policy decide not to engage in transactions with such companies or individuals. A supplier of our company was recently impacted by U.S. export restrictions that prevent it from supplying certain integrated circuits to mainland China. The relevant integrated circuits are not among the components that we purchase from this supplier, and thus this development did not impact our activities with or involving this supplier and did not create disruptions for our business. However, we cannot assure you that similar restrictions will not be imposed with regard to the components that we source from this supplier or other integrated circuits we are currently sourcing. In addition, a supplier of our company was recently added to the U.S. Department of Defense’s list of Chinese Military Companies; as a result, the Department of Defense will be prohibited from acquiring goods or services from this supplier. Although we believe such restriction would not have any impact on our ability to transact with such supplier, we cannot assure you that similar restrictions will not escalate in the future, resulting in our inability to source from such supplier or any other suppliers that are subject to similar restrictions. In addition, policies that are aimed at restricting U.S. or other foreign persons from supplying certain Chinese companies have been issued in the U.S. and other foreign jurisdictions in recent years. These measures could deter suppliers and investors in the United States and/or other countries that impose export controls and other restrictions from providing technologies and products to, making investments in, or otherwise engaging in transactions with Chinese companies. We may be affected by future changes in U.S. export control laws and regulations. In particular, the tightened U.S. export controls, including export controls related to the export to mainland China of certain advanced semiconductors and equipment to manufacture them, as well as export control on emerging technologies could become an additional barrier in securing sufficient supplies of semiconductors. In addition, in the future, if we, any of our customers, suppliers or other ecosystem partners that have collaborative relationships with our company or our affiliates were to become targeted under sanctions or export control restrictions, or if we were unable to source U.S.-origin software and components from third parties or otherwise access U.S. technology as a result of such regulatory changes, our product and service development, commercialization and other aspects of our business operations may be materially interrupted. In addition, under the Foreign Investment Risk Review Modernization Act, investments in companies that deal in critical technology are, in some instances, subject to filing requirements and, review and approval by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, or CFIUS. The term critical technology includes, among others, technology subject to U.S. export controls and certain emerging and foundational technology. We currently do not produce, design, test, manufacture, fabricate or develop any critical technologies. As such, we do not believe there is any mandatory filing requirement with the CFIUS in connection with this offering. However, if our technology is later considered as critical technology by CFIUS, future investment in our company could become subject to filing requirements, and we could be subject to potential enforcement actions in connection with such filings. The occurrence of any of the above could materially and adversely affect our business, prospects, results of operations and financial condition.
6