automobiles
Portfolio: CLSA Capital Partners and Japan's Worldtool
By targeting Japan’s amateur car enthusiast community Worldtool created a new distribution channel for automotive tools in the country. CLSA Capital Partners has helped take the company’s model overseas
EV in Asia: Easy riders
Higher scooter and motorcycle use rates in Asia suggest an opening for the region to take the lead in clean mobility. Early investors in electric two-wheelers have outlined the opportunity
China car-trading platform Renrenche gets $300m
Goldman Sachs, Tencent Holdings and ride-hailing business Didi Chuxing have led a $300 million funding round for Renrenche, a Chinese consumer-to-consumer (C2C) used-car trading platform.
VCs back $12m Series B for Japan's Optical Comb
Innovation Network Corporation of Japan (INCJ) has joined a group of VCs in a JPY1.3 billion ($12 million) Series B round for Optical Comb, a Tokyo-based auto industry supplier that uses advanced 3D scanning technology.
Blackstone agrees $396m deal for Australian panel business
The Blackstone Group will buy the panel repair business of Australia-listed automobile aftercare services and accessories provider AMA Group for an enterprise valuation of A$508 million ($396 million).
PAG backs Chinese-led acquisition of Japan's Takata
PAG Asia Capital has supported Chinese-owned auto components manufacturer Key Safety Systems (KSS) in its $1.59 billion acquisition of assets held by Takata Corporation, a Japanese company that filed for bankruptcy following a recall of faulty vehicle...
PE-backed Chinese car trading platform Souche buys rival
Souche, a Chinese online car trading platform that has received investment from Alibaba Group as well as from several PE players, has acquired industry peer Cheyipai.
China’s Meiliche Jinrong raises another $38m
Meiliche Jinrong, the online auto finance unit of Chinese consumer loans site Meili Jinrong, has raised an additional RMB239 million ($37.88 million) for its Series B round.
IMM invests $56m in Korea's Socar
IMM Private Equity has committed KRW60 billion ($56 million) to Socar, a car sharing company based in South Korea.
Tata-backed Varroc files for India IPO
Varroc Engineering, an Indian auto component manufacturer owned by the Varroc Group, has filed for an IPO that will see its private equity backer Tata Capital exit the bulk of its holding.
Deal focus: SBI helps Japan AI player smarten up the road
SBI Investments backs a Japanese start-up focused on improving decision-making technology in self-driving cars
China’s CHJ Automotive raises $474m Series B
Chinese electric vehicle maker CHJ Automotive has completed a RMB3 billion ($474 million) Series B round led by Matrix Partners China and Shougang Fund, an investment firm backed by state-owned steel producer Shougang Corporation.
SBI backs Japan autonomous driving start-up Ascent
SBI Investment has made the first investment from its artificial intelligence (AI) and blockchain technology fund, leading a JPY1.1 billion ($10.3 million) round for Japan’s Ascent Robotics.
Burda leads $19m round for Malaysia's Carsome
Burda Principal Investments, the investment arm of European technology and media company Hubert Burda Media, has led a $19 million Series B round for Malaysian online used car marketplace Carsome.
Fenox joins Japan's Aisin for $50m automotive fund
US-based VC firm Fenox Venture Capital has partnered with Japan-based automotive parts and systems maker Aisin Group to launch a $50 million investment vehicle aimed at automotive-related technology start-ups.
Toyota launches $2.8b car technology investment program
Toyota Group has confirmed it will establish a Tokyo-based investment program that will commit more than JPY300 billion ($2.8 billion) to autonomous driving development.
Tencent leads $818m round for China’s Chehaoduo
Chehaoduo, a Chinese online auto services provider that runs consumer-to-consumer (C2C) used car trading platform Guazi, has raised $818 million in a Series C round of funding led by Tencent Holdings.
Corporate VC funds foreshadow auto sector M&A wave
A raft of specialist fundraising activity by technology and automotive corporates suggests start-ups in nascent areas of the mobility industry could benefit from a near-term uptick in M&A activity.
Auto technology: Investment vehicles
New and old players are vying for market share as the global automotive industry experiences a multifaceted reboot. Investment inroads abound, but there is much uncertainty in the evolution
Cathay Capital to acquire German auto parts supplier
Cathay Capital Private Equity, a cross-border PE firm focusing on China, Europe and the US, has agreed to acquire a majority stake in German auto-parts maker E. Winkemann from Equistone Partners Europe.
China's Farasis Energy secures $793m Series C
Farasis Energy, a rechargeable battery manufacturer with operations in China and the US, has raised RMB5 billion ($793 million) in Series C funding from the China State-owned Venture Capital Fund.
IDG Capital backs Chinese electric car maker
IDG Capital has invested RMB1 billion ($159 million) in Skio Matrix, a Chinese company that manufactures electric cars and batteries.
Chinese auto financing site raises $92m Series B round
Meliche Jinrong, the online auto finance subsidiary of Chinese consumer loans site Meili Jinrong, has raised a $92 million Series B round led by local agribusiness player New Hope Group.
Blackstone bids for Australian auto panel repair business
The Blackstone Group has offered to buy the panel repair business of Australia-listed automotive aftercare services and accessories provider AMA Group for an enterprise valuation of A$530 million ($427 million).