BAIC’s Electric Vehicle Unit Raises $1.6B In Series B Round

Chinese car maker Beijing Automotive Group’s (BAIC Group) electric vehicle business unit, BAIC BJEV, has raised a RMB11.1 billion (US$1.6 billion) series B round from 14 investors, including state-owned enterprises China Cinda Asset Management Co., Ltd. and Zhongji Investment, a firm co-founded by the Hebei provincial government. The round values BJEV at RMB28 billion (US$4.2… Continue reading BAIC’s Electric Vehicle Unit Raises $1.6B In Series B Round

Volkswagen To Invest $12B To Launch 40 EV Models In China By 2025

Automotive manufacturer Volkswagen AG has said it will invest over US$12 billion by 2020 with its Chinese partners to launch as many as 40 new electric and hybrid vehicle models in China by 2025. The first of the new models could enter the Chinese market as early as next year, Jochem Heizmann, the head of… Continue reading Volkswagen To Invest $12B To Launch 40 EV Models In China By 2025

China’s Tencent Reported To Lead $1B Round In Chinese EV Firm NIO

Chinese Internet giant Tencent Holdings Ltd. has led a new funding round worth over US$1 billion in NIO, a Shanghai-based electric vehicle company founded by a top Chinese automobile executive. A number of investors including U.K.-based Baillie Gifford, American Lone Pine Capital, China’s CITIC Capital and China Asset Management Ltd. also participated in the round,… Continue reading China’s Tencent Reported To Lead $1B Round In Chinese EV Firm NIO

Ford, Zotye Automobile To Establish China Electric Vehicle Joint Venture

Ford Motor Co has signed a memorandum of understanding with China’s Anhui Zotye Automobile Co., Ltd. to jointly manufacturing all-electric vehicles in China. Under the agreement, a 50-50 joint venture will develop, produce, market and service a new line of all-electric passenger vehicles. The vehicles will be marketed under an indigenous brand name owned by… Continue reading Ford, Zotye Automobile To Establish China Electric Vehicle Joint Venture

China’s Baidu Rumored To Lead $140M Round In Electric Vehicle Start-up WM Motor

Chinese Internet company Baidu Inc. is reportedly leading a new funding round of roughly RMB1 billion (US$140 million) in WM Motor, an electric vehicle start-up founded by Freeman Shen, the former chairman of Volvo Car Group China. Tencent Holdings Ltd., which also backs WM Motor’s rival NIO, is reportedly aiming to co-lead the round, according… Continue reading China’s Baidu Rumored To Lead $140M Round In Electric Vehicle Start-up WM Motor

Joy Capital Participates In Tuhu’s Series C Round

Shanghai-based automobile after-sales products and services e-commerce platform Tuhu has completed its series C funding round from Joy Capital, Welkin Capital Management, Far East Horizon Limited, and Haitong Securities Co., according to a company announcement. The company raised approximately US$100 million in the latest round, says a company representative. Existing investors Legend Capital and Qiming… Continue reading Joy Capital Participates In Tuhu’s Series C Round

Shanghai Puts Breaks on Bike Share Frenzy, Asks Mobike, Ofo To Temporarily Halt Bike Placement

The Shanghai government has asked six bike sharing companies including Mobike and ofo to temporarily suspend bike placement in the city’s central districts, saying shared bikes have reached saturation point in those areas. The move may put the breaks on a venture capital-fueled bike sharing frenzy taking place in China. It also highlights regulatory risks… Continue reading Shanghai Puts Breaks on Bike Share Frenzy, Asks Mobike, Ofo To Temporarily Halt Bike Placement

China Fines For Foreign Automakers Raise Regulatory Risks

Investigations by China’s National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) into anti-competitive behavior in the autos sector have raised regulatory uncertainty and risk for international car makers, says credit rating agency Fitch Ratings. The potential fines likely to be levied are not expected to have a material impact on corporate stability. However, it is unclear whether… Continue reading China Fines For Foreign Automakers Raise Regulatory Risks

Galaxy Capital Leads $18M Series B Round In YouChe

Beijing-based online used car trading platform YouChe has completed US$18 million series B financing led by Galaxy Capital, according to Chinese media reports. Existing investors IDG Capital Partners and Zhen Fund also participated in the round. Founded in December 2013, YouChe previously received several million RMB angel investment from Zhen Fund in December 2014. In… Continue reading Galaxy Capital Leads $18M Series B Round In YouChe

KKR-Backed Rundong Automobile Group Plans $138M HK IPO

Jiangsu province-based Chinese automobile dealership company Rundong Automobile Group is planning an IPO in Hong Kong to raise as much as US$138 million, according to an official prospectus. Rundong plans to sell 268.62 million shares at HK$3.58 to HK$3.98 per share, to raise as much as HK$1.07 billion (US$138 million). The proceeds will be used for acquisitions,… Continue reading KKR-Backed Rundong Automobile Group Plans $138M HK IPO