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

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

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 $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

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

AVIC Acquires Henniges Automotive From Littlejohn

Chinese state-owned aerospace and defense company Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) has acquired automobile parts maker Henniges Automotive Holdings, Inc. from U.S. private equity firm, Littlejohn & Co. Financial details are not disclosed, but a company announcement says the deal is one of the largest acquisitions by a Chinese company of a U.S.-based automotive… Continue reading AVIC Acquires Henniges Automotive From Littlejohn

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

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

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

China Eyes Two Million New Energy Vehicles In Annual Production By 2020

China aims to achieve annual production and sales of two million new energy vehicles by 2020, as the country ramps up efforts to expand its green energy sector and reduce dangerous levels of air pollution in its major cities. New energy cars are defined as vehicles powered by alternative sources of energy. They include hybrid,… Continue reading China Eyes Two Million New Energy Vehicles In Annual Production By 2020