Faraday Future Reportedly Seeks $1B To Protect Itself From LeEco Cash Crunch

Faraday Future, a Los Angeles based smart electric car company backed by Jia Yueting, founder of Chinese technology conglomerate LeEco, is reportedly seeking a new funding round of US$1 billion from large-scale investors including sovereign wealth funds, according to media reports citing insiders. Jia Yueting, who previously injected roughly US$500 million of his own money… Continue reading Faraday Future Reportedly Seeks $1B To Protect Itself From LeEco Cash Crunch

Ceyuan, Shunwei Lead $20M Series B In RenRenChe.Com

Beijing-based used car online transaction platform RenRenChe.com has completed US$20 million series B financing led by Ceyuan Ventures and Shunwei Capital, according to the company’s Weibo account. Existing investor Redpoint Ventures also participated. The latest round values the company at US$150 million. Founded in April 2014, RenRenChe.com received US$5 million series A from Redpoint at… Continue reading Ceyuan, Shunwei Lead $20M Series B In RenRenChe.Com

Tencent-Backed EV Start-Up Future Mobility Eyes $1.7B Nanjing Plant

Future Mobility Corporation, a Chinese electric car start-up backed by Tencent Holdings Ltd. and Foxconn Technology Group, announced plans yesterday to invest RMB11.6 billion (US$1.7 billion) to build a new factory in Nanjing to manufacture its self-developed electric vehicles. The planned project is expected to have the capacity to produce 300,000 cars a year eventually,… Continue reading Tencent-Backed EV Start-Up Future Mobility Eyes $1.7B Nanjing Plant

China’s Geely To Acquire US Flying Car Company Terrafugia

Chinese automotive manufacturer Zhejiang Geely Holding Group, the parent company of Volvo Cars, has agreed to acquire the operations and assets of Terrafugia Inc., a U.S.-based firm developing flying cars. No financial details were disclosed in an announcement released by Terrafugia yesterday. The company said the deal has received approval from all relevant regulators including… Continue reading China’s Geely To Acquire US Flying Car Company Terrafugia

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

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

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