EV Charging Station Firm Chargerlink Secures $20M Venture Funding

Chargerlink, a Shenzhen-based start-up focused on providing charging station solutions for the electric vehicles (EV) sector, has secured US$20 million series A round, the largest venture funding in the EV services market in China. According to Chinese media reports, four Chinese investors participated in the round, which will be used to expand the company’s business.… Continue reading EV Charging Station Firm Chargerlink Secures $20M Venture Funding

China Plans Ambitious Expansion Of EV Charging Pole Network

Forty-eight major Chinese cities are planning ambitious expansion plans to increase the total number of electric vehicle charging stations to 1,549, and the number of charging poles to 238,559 by 2015. That compare with a total of 307 charging stations and 16,947 charging poles in these 48 cities as of October 2013, according to Chinese… Continue reading China Plans Ambitious Expansion Of EV Charging Pole Network

China’s Leo Group Joins $121M Capital Injection In Electric Vehicle Start-Up

Shenzhen-listed mini-pumps and garden machines maker Leo Group Co., Ltd. has agreed to join seven other investors to inject RMB780 million (US$121 million) in a smart electric vehicle start-up established by Li Xiang, the founder of New York-listed Autohome Inc. In a securities filing (in Chinese), Leo Group says it will invest RMB350 million to… Continue reading China’s Leo Group Joins $121M Capital Injection In Electric Vehicle Start-Up

China’s FDG Electric Vehicle Hires Former Volvo China Head As COO

Chinese electric vehicle company FDG Electric Vehicles Ltd. has named Tong Zhiyuan, formerly the chief executive officer of Volvo Car Corporation China District, as its chief operating officer and executive director, effective immediately. Tong will act as the head of FDG’s electric vehicle division, and will oversee daily operation and management, research and development at… Continue reading China’s FDG Electric Vehicle Hires Former Volvo China Head As COO

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

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?

CITIC Securities Leads $400M Round In EV Battery Maker Microvast

CITIC Securities has led a US$400 million funding round in Microvast Power System (MPS), an electric vehicle power system solutions provider and a subsidiary of U.S. and China-based Microvast. China’s CDH Investment, National Venture Capital and other unnamed investors also participated in the round. MPS is a vertically integrated developer and manufacturer of advanced electric… Continue reading CITIC Securities Leads $400M Round In EV Battery Maker Microvast

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

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

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