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

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

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

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?

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

China’s BAIC Group Launches EV Battery-Swap Station Network In Beijing

A new energy subsidiary of Beijing Automotive Group (BAIC Group) has delivered the first few battery-switch stations for EV taxi in Beijing, as China continues to fight against severe pollution in the country. The stations form the largest network in the world for electric taxi battery charging and swapping, BAIC BJEV said in a statement.… Continue reading China’s BAIC Group Launches EV Battery-Swap Station Network In Beijing

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

Go Scale Capital Joins $70M New Funding Round In Protean Electric

Go Scale Capital, Zhejiang VIE Science & Technology and Tianjin THSG Corporation have led a US$70 million new financing round in Protean Electric, an in-wheel electric drive system developer, according to a company announcement. Existing investors Oak Investment Partners and GSR Ventures also participated in the round. The new funding will be used to ramp… Continue reading Go Scale Capital Joins $70M New Funding Round In Protean Electric

China Harmony New Energy Auto’s After-Sales Unit Raises $41M

Hong Kong-listed China Harmony New Energy Auto Holding Ltd. has completed a spin-off of an after-sales unit, which has reached agreements to received RMB280 million (US$41 million) from a few strategic investors, according to a disclosure filing. Automobile industry-focused investment firm Leaguer Auto and Aotuo Investment have agreed to invest in Independent Aftersales Company, an… Continue reading China Harmony New Energy Auto’s After-Sales Unit Raises $41M

GO Scale Capital Teams Up With SPI Energy To Invest In EV Battery Projects

GO Scale Capital, an investment fund sponsored by China-focused GSR Ventures and U.S. venture capital firm Oak Investment Partners, plans to partner with Chinese solar firm SPI Energy Co., Ltd. to back electric vehicle battery projects, says a company announcement. The two parties have signed a non-binding framework agreement, in which SPI Energy will issue… Continue reading GO Scale Capital Teams Up With SPI Energy To Invest In EV Battery Projects