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

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

Chinese Bike Rental Firm Mobike Launches Services In The UK

Shanghai-based smart bike rental firm Mobike today announced it will launch its service in the British cities of Manchester and Salford later this month, marking the multi-billion dollar start-up’s first operation outside of Asia and the beginning of further expansion in Europe. Starting June 29, people in Manchester and Salford will be able to download… Continue reading Chinese Bike Rental Firm Mobike Launches Services In The UK

Beijing Considers Tighter Rules On Bike Sharing Deposits

The Beijing Municipal Bureau of Financial Work is considering tighter regulations over the management of deposits collected by bike sharing companies, in order to protect consumers and reduce financial risk in the industry. Bike sharing companies registered in Beijing may be asked to put all bike deposits they have collected into a special bank account… Continue reading Beijing Considers Tighter Rules On Bike Sharing Deposits

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

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

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

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 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

Source Code Capital Joins $22.5M Series C Round In Auto O2O Player eBaoyang

Source Code Capital has joined a RMB150 million (US$22.5 million) series C round of financing in automobile after-sales O2O (online-to-offline) service provider, eBaoyang, Chinese media reported. The round is led by Yihao Capital, an entity that currently lacks any available identifiable public information. Founded in 2014, eBaoyang completed a US$20 million series B financing led… Continue reading Source Code Capital Joins $22.5M Series C Round In Auto O2O Player eBaoyang