Tencent Partners With Guangzhou Automobile Group To Break Into Automotive Industry

Tencent Holdings Ltd. has signed a strategic partnership agreement with Guangzhou Automobile Group Co., Ltd. to discuss possible cooperation in automobile e-commerce, automobile insurance and new energy vehicles, according to a statement issued by Guangzhou Automobile Group. The agreement with Guangzhou Automobile Group, whose shares traded on Hong Kong and Shanghai stock exchanges soared on… Continue reading Tencent Partners With Guangzhou Automobile Group To Break Into Automotive Industry

China’s Bike Rental Firms Mobike, ofo Are Raising Nearly $1 Billion In Fresh Funding

As city streets in China become a theater for the current venture capital-fueled bike rental start-up frenzy, the two biggest bike rental companies in the country, Shanghai-based Mobike and Beijing-based ofo, are both raising massive new financing rounds totaling nearly US$1 billion. Mobike is raising a new round worth several hundred million U.S. dollars, which… Continue reading China’s Bike Rental Firms Mobike, ofo Are Raising Nearly $1 Billion In Fresh Funding

After Three Years In China: What Are Tesla’s Hits And Misses?

After opening its first showroom in Beijing in November 2013, Tesla has been expanding in the Chinese market for three years. Its Model S and Model X are regularly seen on the streets of Beijing and Shanghai, and Tesla Supercharger stations have dotted major cities in the country. Despite falling way short of company chief… Continue reading After Three Years In China: What Are Tesla’s Hits And Misses?

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

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

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