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

Tencent Leads $85M Series C Round In Renrenche.Com

Beijing-based online used car marketplace RenRenChe.com has completed US$85 million series C financing led by Tencent Holdings Limited, according to an announcement posted on the company’s Weibi account. Existing investors Lei Jun, who is the founder of Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi Inc, as well as Ceyuan Ventures, Shunwei Capital, and Redpoint Ventures also participated in… Continue reading Tencent Leads $85M Series C Round In Renrenche.Com

Tesla Said To Eye Guangdong Car Plant In China

U.S. electric car maker Tesla Motor Inc. may set up a production base in Guangdong province via a wholly owned enterprise in the Chinese manufacturing and assembly hub, Chinese media reported citing insiders. The plan still needs local government approval and may be subject to change. Tesla has been seeking ways to establish local production… Continue reading Tesla Said To Eye Guangdong Car Plant In China

Tencent Leads $600 Million Series E Financing Round In Mobike

Chinese bike rental firm Mobike has raised over US$600 million in a series E financing round led by Tencent Holdings Ltd., the largest financing round to date in the bike sharing space, the firm announced today. It brings the company’s total fundraising this year to nearly US$1 billion. The round was joined by existing investors… Continue reading Tencent Leads $600 Million Series E Financing Round In Mobike

China’s Online Food Ordering Market Matures With 75% Penetration Rate

Over 75% of China’s netizens have ordered food online or via mobile apps, up from 35% two years ago, says a new research report by Tencent Holdings Ltd. In comparison, the penetration rate for online food delivery in the U.S. is at around 5%, according to a recent Morgan Stanley research report. The convenience of… Continue reading China’s Online Food Ordering Market Matures With 75% Penetration Rate

Tencent Buys 5% Of Tesla In Deal With Potential Synergy Between Two Tech Giants

Chinese tech giant Tencent Holdings Ltd. has bought a 5% stake in U.S. electric vehicle maker and renewable energy firm Tesla for US$1.78 billion. This is a deal that gives investors much to anticipate as the two could potentially partner in many areas. The combination is welcomed by investors, as Tesla’s shares were up 6.54%… Continue reading Tencent Buys 5% Of Tesla In Deal With Potential Synergy Between Two Tech Giants

Tencent Leads $600 Million Series A Financing Round In Mobile

Chinese bike rental firm Mobike has raised over US$600 million in a series E financing round led by Tencent Holdings Ltd., the largest financing round to date in the bike sharing space, the firm announced today. It brings the company’s total fundraising this year to nearly US$1 billion. The round was joined by existing investors… Continue reading Tencent Leads $600 Million Series A Financing Round In Mobile

LeEco’s EV Unit Le Supercar Names New CEO As Co-Founder Ding Lei Steps Down

Ding Lei, co-founder and chief executive officer of China of LeEco’s electric car affiliate Le Supercar, has left the company due to personal health issues, the executive disclosed on his Weibo account today. LeEco has appointed Zhang Hailiang, previously president and chief operating officer at Le Supercar, as the unit’s new head. It also hired… Continue reading LeEco’s EV Unit Le Supercar Names New CEO As Co-Founder Ding Lei Steps Down

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

Tencent, Baidu Lead $600M Round In Chinese Electric Vehicle Maker NIO

Tencent Holdings Ltd. and Baidu Inc. have led a US$600 million funding round in Shanghai-based electric car maker NIO, formerly known as NextEV, according to Chinese media reports citing insiders. IDG Capital, American investment firm TPG, Hillhouse Capital, Lenovo Group Ltd., Singapore-based GIC Private Ltd., and a number of investors also participated in the round,… Continue reading Tencent, Baidu Lead $600M Round In Chinese Electric Vehicle Maker NIO