automobiles
Government investors support Chinese EV player Letin
Chinese state-backed investors have pumped CNY 3.2bn (USD 447m) into local new energy vehicle start-up Letin amid reports that the company had run into financial distress.
Lightspeed backs China autonomous driving industry supplier Daisch
Lightspeed China Partners has backed Daisch, a domestic supplier of high-precision products for autonomous driving, as the sole participant in a Series A round.
Indonesia's INA, Chinese partners form $2bn EV fund
Indonesia’s sovereign wealth fund, Indonesia Investment Authority (INA), has launched a USD 2bn green electric vehicle (EV) fund with Chinese battery manufacturer CATL and the international arm of China Merchants Bank (CMB).
Hidden Hill leads $330m round for Geely's China NEV unit
Farizon Auto, a new energy vehicle (NEV) brand under Chinese automaker Geely, has secured USD 300m in pre-Series A funding led by Hidden Hill Capital, a private equity arm of local warehouse operator turned logistics and infrastructure investment manager...
China EV brand Aion raises $2.5b
GAC Aion, an electric vehicle (EV) brand under GAC Group, a Chinese state-owned automotive manufacturer, has raised CNY 18.3bn (USD 2.5bn) in Series A funding at a valuation of CNY 103.2bn from 53 so-called strategic investors.
Deal focus: Euler finds favour with India-oriented EVs
Euler Motors is one of several India-based electric vehicle manufacturers attracting significant private capital, but the company believes its customised offering for commercial users is truly differentiated
Q&A: WeRide's Tony Han
Tony Han, founder and CEO of China’s WeRide, on commercialising fully autonomous passenger vehicles, surviving a capital winter, and why universities are vital to the hard-tech revolution
Korea autonomous driving player gets $25m
Korea’s Seoul Robotics, which specialises in computer vision for 3D sensors used by autonomous cars, has raised a USD 25m Series B round led by KB Investment.
Japan’s J-Star backs campervan manufacturer
Japanese lower-middle market private equity firm J-Star has confirmed an investment of undisclosed size in Toy Factory, a campervan designer and manufacturer.
Quadrant completes exit from Australia's Peter Warren Auto
Quadrant Private Equity has completed its exit from Australian car dealership Peter Warren Automotive Holdings - which it took public last year - through a AUD 50m (USD 34m) block trade.
China EV player Leapmotor targets Hong Kong IPO
LeapMotor has filed for an IPO in Hong Kong, putting it on course to become the fourth of China's "new force" electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers to go public.
Japan carve-outs: Improving the old
Private equity investors are keen to acquire mature but unloved assets from Japanese corporates and reposition them for growth. Execution is seldom straightforward, and size often means complexity
Baidu-backed autonomous truck developer raises $67m
DeepWay, an intelligent driving solutions provider for trucks established by Baidu, has raised a Series A round of CNY 460m (USD 67m) led by Qiming Venture Partners.
Winreal hits $150m first close on China tech fund
Winreal Investment, a China-based venture capital firm established by a former chief engineer at domestic telecom equipment provider ZTE Corporation, has reached a first close of CNY 1.3bn (USD 150m) on its latest renminbi-denominated fund.
Blackstone part-exits Indian auto components maker
The Blackstone Group has realised proceeds of INR 40.4bn (USD 506m) through a partial exit from Sona Comstar, an India-listed manufacturer of automotive systems and components that trades as Sona BLW Precision Forgings.
PE-backed Korean ride-sharing player Socar drops on debut
Socar, a Korea-based car-sharing business backed by the likes of Bain Capital, IMM Private Equity, and SoftBank Ventures Asia, traded down on debut following a KRW 101.9bn (USD 76m) IPO.
China carmaker SAIC raises $148m for mobility unit
Chinese carmaker SAIC Motor has raised CNY 1bn (USD 148m) to support the expansion of its mobile services unit, which last year launched a fleet of robotaxis.
Korean carmakers take control of local autonomous driving player
Korean automakers Hyundai Motor and Kia have paid a combined KRW 427.7bn (USD 328.8m) for control of 42dot, a local autonomous driving software developer in which they and several VC investors already held minority stakes.
Hong Kong's Gly Capital closes debut mobility fund
Gly Capital Management, which is majorly owned by a Chinese automaker, tapped external investors for the first time in raising USD 163m for global investments in smart cities and smart cars
Deal focus: Allegro pumps up in New Zealand
Australia’s Allegro Funds has made its first investment from its largest fund to date, flexing new capacity to invest at scale with petrol station chain Gull New Zealand
China's Black Sesame completes Series C with $500m haul
Black Sesame Technologies, a China-based chipmaker specializing in autonomous driving applications, has closed a Series C extension led by SummitView Capital. This brings the size of the overall round to USD 500m.
Allegro buys New Zealand fuel retail business
Australia’s Allegro Funds has agreed to acquire 100% of petrol station chain Gull New Zealand, the largest independent operator of its kind locally, for NZD 552m (USD 327m).
Apax buys Australia automotive auctions platform
Apax Partners has acquired a majority position in Australian vehicles and industrial equipment marketplace Pickles Auctions.
China EV maker Hozon completes Series D with $443m tranche
Hozon Auto, a Chinese electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer, has raised CNY 3bn (USD 443m) in funding from the likes of Shenzhen Capital Group, Qianhai FoF, Hongtai Capital, Dayone Capital, Insight Capital, and Dianshi Capital.