Chinese Bike Rental Firm Ofo Increases Bike Deposits To RMB199 From RMB99

Beijing-based bike rental company ofo today increased the deposit new users must pay to borrow bikes to RMB199 (US$29) from RMB99 (US$14.5) previously. Despite the increase, ofo’s deposit price remains significantly less than the RMB299 deposits required by rival Mobike. ofo can charge a smaller deposits because its bright yellow bikes are relatively cheap to… Continue reading Chinese Bike Rental Firm Ofo Increases Bike Deposits To RMB199 From RMB99

Chinese Provinces Race For Lead In Electric Vehicle Innovation

Provinces across China are vying to attract electric vehicle companies and projects, positioning themselves to benefit most as China aspires to become a world leader in electric vehicle innovation. The latest region to score big is the Guian New Area, a 1,795 square kilometer economic zone located near Guiyang city in sleepy Guizhou province. China’s… Continue reading Chinese Provinces Race For Lead In Electric Vehicle Innovation

Hillhouse Leads $50M Series B In India’s CarDekho.Com

Asia-focused alternative investment management firm Hillhouse Capital Management has led US$50 million series B financing round in Indian automobile classified ads web platform CarDekho.com, according to a company announcement. Tybourne Capital and Sequoia Capital also participated in the round, which increased the valuation of CarDekho’s parent company, Girnar Software, to approximately US$300 million. “We see… Continue reading Hillhouse Leads $50M Series B In India’s CarDekho.Com

Five Chinese Electric Vehicle Start-Ups That Could Rival Tesla

Across China’s 9.6 million square kilometers of land, there was never a shortage of ambition. So too with the electric vehicle revolution. Despite being a late comer to the EV craze, the country’s start-ups are not shy about aiming high. At least half-a-dozen Chinese EV start-ups – not including traditional car makers going green –… Continue reading Five Chinese Electric Vehicle Start-Ups That Could Rival Tesla

Chinese Video From LeTV To Build Electric Cars

Beijing-based Chinese online video company LeTV Holdings Co., Ltd. plans to build electric cars in China to fight against the country’s worsening air pollution, according to the Weibo account of the company’s chairman Jia Yueting. The move will see the Shenzhen-listed online video firm compete directly with Chinese car makers including BYD Auto, SAIC Motor… Continue reading Chinese Video From LeTV To Build Electric Cars

Will Tesla’s China Story Lose Its Charge?

In this episode of China Money Podcast, our host Nina Xiang talks to reporter Viola Zhou, about Tesla Motor’s China expansion and the challenges the innovative American company is likely to face in the world’s largest automobile market. You can read Viola Zhou’s investigative story here, or listen to the audio podcast. Be sure to… Continue reading Will Tesla’s China Story Lose Its Charge?

LeEco-backed Faraday Future Hires Deutsche Bank, BMW Veteran Stefan Krause As CFO

Faraday Future, a Los Angeles based smart electric car company backed by Jia Yueting, founder of Chinese technology conglomerate LeEco, has hired Stefan Krause as the company’s global chief financial officer. Krause is a former Deutsche Bank executive and chief financial officer of Bayerische Motoren Werke AG. Krause will be responsible for corporate finance, investor… Continue reading LeEco-backed Faraday Future Hires Deutsche Bank, BMW Veteran Stefan Krause As CFO

Baidu Rumored To Make $100M Investment In Chinese EV Start-Up NextEV

Chinese Internet firm Baidu Inc. is rumored to plan to invest US$100 million in NextEV, a Chinese smart electric vehicle start-up backed by top global investors including Singapore’s Temasek Holdings, private equity giant TPG and Sequoia Capital. Baidu is to participate in NextEV’s series C financing round, according to Chinese media reports citing insiders. Some… Continue reading Baidu Rumored To Make $100M Investment In Chinese EV Start-Up NextEV

N5 Capital Leads $10M Series A Round In Che101

Beijing-based second-hand automobile trading platform Che101 has completed US$10 million series A funding led by N5 Capital, according to Chinese media reports. Existing investor Lightspeed Venture Partners also participated in the round. Che101 previously received several million U.S. dollar investment from Lightspeed. The company says it plans to expand its used car database to 50… Continue reading N5 Capital Leads $10M Series A Round In Che101

SAIC Capital Leads New Funding Round In SDC Materials

Tempe, Arizona-based automotive material maker SDC Materials, Inc. has completed an undisclosed round of new financing led by SAIC Capital, the venture capital investment arm of Chinese car maker SAIC Motor Corporation, according to a company announcement. Existing investors, including General Motors Ventures, BASF Venture Capital, Volvo Group Venture Capital, Invus Financial Advisors and Emerald… Continue reading SAIC Capital Leads New Funding Round In SDC Materials