Volkswagen mulls buying stake in Chinese auto suppliers

Volkswagen AG is exploring potential investments in Chinese automotive suppliers as it seeks to secure access to key technology in the world’s largest car market, people familiar with the matter said. Options under discussion include buying equity stakes or forging joint ventures with Chinese suppliers, particularly firms with technology used in electric vehicles, according to… Continue reading Volkswagen mulls buying stake in Chinese auto suppliers

India: Hero MotoCorp’s Pawan Munjal in talks to invest in Ola Electric

Pawan Munjal might be the next big investor after Ratan Tata to invest in Ola Electric. Billionaire Pawan Munjal, chairman of Hero MotoCorp Ltd—India’s largest two-wheeler maker by sales—is in advanced talks to invest in the electric mobility arm of ride-hailing company Ola, said four people directly aware of the development. An investment in Ola… Continue reading India: Hero MotoCorp’s Pawan Munjal in talks to invest in Ola Electric

Russia’s Mail.ru buys controlling stake in car sharing company YouDrive

The logo of Mail.ru Group Ltd. sits on display in the company’s offices in Moscow, Russia, on Monday, June 17, 2013. Photographer: Andrey Rudakov/Bloomberg Russian internet firm Mail.ru Group has bought a controlling stake in car sharing operator YouDrive jointly with investment company Proxima Capital, Mail.ru said in a statement on Thursday. Mail.ru did not disclose the size of the stake or the cost… Continue reading Russia’s Mail.ru buys controlling stake in car sharing company YouDrive

Vietnamese conglomerate Vingroup applies for licence to launch airline ops

Vingroup JSC has applied for a licence to launch an airline next year as Vietnam’s largest conglomerate plans to expand its footprint in one of the fastest growing aviation markets, local media reported on Thursday. The group’s newly created unit, Vinpearl Air, has submitted the application with the Department of Planning and Investment of Hanoi,… Continue reading Vietnamese conglomerate Vingroup applies for licence to launch airline ops

India Digest: CPPIB gets nod for Delhivery stake; GoMechanic in talks for funding

Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) has secured Competition Commission of India’s (CCI) approval to acquire Delhivery stake, while GoMechanic is in talks with Fosun International and Chiratae Ventures for funding. CPPIB gets CCI’s nod to buy Delhivery stake Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) has secured Competition Commission of India’s (CCI) approval to acquire… Continue reading India Digest: CPPIB gets nod for Delhivery stake; GoMechanic in talks for funding

Bike taxi startup Rapido acqui-hires analytics startup Vahanalytics

Bike taxi app Rapido has acqui-hired Mumbai-based Vahanalytics, a data analytics startup that allows organizations to track their vehicle fleet operations, according to the company’s filings with the ministry of corporate affairs (MCA), sourced from business information platform Paper.vc. The value of the deal was undisclosed. However, a person aware of the deal told Mint… Continue reading Bike taxi startup Rapido acqui-hires analytics startup Vahanalytics

Chinese EV maker Lixiang raises $530m Series C funding led by Meituan founder

Chinese electric vehicle producer Lixiang Automotive, formerly CHJ Automotive, has banked a $530-million Series C funding at a post-investment valuation of $2.93 billion, its early backer Plum Ventures said in an announcement. The round was led by Wang Xing, founder and CEO of online services giant Meituan-Dianping, according to the statement. While Plum Ventures did… Continue reading Chinese EV maker Lixiang raises $530m Series C funding led by Meituan founder

India Digest: Predictronics Corp, Talview raise funds; FuelBuddy eyes $2m

In the latest startup funding, TVS Motor (Singapore) has invested in US-based Predictronics Corporation while HRtech startup Talview has raised $6.75 million. In another development, FuelBuddy is looking to raise up to $2 million. TVS Motor invests in Predictronics Corp TVS Motor (Singapore) Pte. Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of TVS Motor Company Limited, India, has… Continue reading India Digest: Predictronics Corp, Talview raise funds; FuelBuddy eyes $2m

Russian courier service MrSpeedy bags $15m Series B led by Vostok New Ventures

Russia-headquartered Dostavista, the parent of crowdsourcing delivery service company MrSpeedy, has raised $15 million in a Series B funding round led by venture capital firm Vostok New Ventures, the company said in a Linkedin post. Budapest-based equity and debt fund FlashPoint and Moscow-based VC fund AddVenture also participated in the round. The proceeds from the… Continue reading Russian courier service MrSpeedy bags $15m Series B led by Vostok New Ventures