automobiles
VCs in $30m round for China car sales platform
Welight Capital, a China-based venture capital firm founded by former Tencent Holdings executives, has led a RMB200 million ($30 million) Series B round for Maihaoche.com, a Chinese new car sales platform. Northern Light Venture Capital also participated.
Alibaba, InnoSpring launch China accelerator
InnoSpring and Alibaba Group have jointly launched an accelerator program in China with a view to helping international start-ups access Chinese markets and ecosystems.
China’s GSR to acquire Nissan’s electric battery business
Japan’s Nissan Motor has agreed to sell its electric battery operations and production facilities to Chinese private equity firm GSR Capital. Financial terms were not disclosed.
Deal focus: Momenta brings brains to self-driving cars
Fast-rising autonomous driving software developer Momenta started signing up paying customers for its products within a year of launch. The company's $46 million Series B round will help it take the next step
Deal focus: KKR hits the gas on Korea auto carve-out
KKR has backed two divisions of Korea's LS Group - worth a combined $940 million - giving it exposure to an established auto parts business and a division that could prosper on the back of the electric car boom
KKR backs auto parts spin-out from Korea's LS Group
KKR has agreed to back automotive parts maker LS Automotive (LSA), a spin-out from Korean conglomerate LS Group, and to acquire the copper foil and flexible copper clad laminate business of LS Group affiliate LS Mtron.
Deal focus: CITIC Capital, 3i team up in auto services
CITIC Capital and 3i have together committed $265 million to Formel D with a view to helping the German auto testing and inspection business expand its footprint in Asia
CITIC Capital, 3i acquire German auto services provider
China-focused GP CITIC Capital has teamed up with 3i Group to acquire Formel D - a German provider of vehicle testing and other support services to the auto industry - from private equity firm Deutsche Beteiligungs AG (DBAG).
India's Droom raises $20m Series C
Indian used-car trading marketplace Droom has raised a $20 million Series C round from investors including Lightbox India Advisors and Beenos Asia.
China-US EV: Electric avenue
US cleantech start-ups have emerged as important suppliers in China’s fast-growing electric vehicle industry. Venture capital firms will play a key role in keeping the cross-border traffic flowing
TPG leads $437 million investment in Kakao's ride-hailing business
A TPG Capital-led consortium has agreed to invest KRW500 billion ($437.5 million) in a transportation-focused spin-out of South Korean internet services company Kakao Corp.
Chinese VCs commit $50m to US driverless car start-up
Drive.ai, a US driverless car technology developer, has received a $50 million Series B round from a group of investors including China’s GGV Capital and Northern Light Venture Capital.
PE-backed car auction player Mychebao receives $74m
Chinese second-hand car online auction platform Mychebao, which is backed by several PE investors including PAG Asia Capital, has raised another RMB500 million ($74 million) in an extended Series C round of funding.
China C2C used car platform Guazi raises $400m
Guazi, an online consumer-to-consumer (C2C) used car trading platform that spun out from US-listed Chinese classifieds site 58.com, has completed a $400 million Series B round led by existing investor Sequoia Capital China.
H&Q joins $35m round for US-based One Inc
One Inc, a US-based maker of software-as-a-service (SaaS) products for the insurance industry, has raised a $35 million funding round with participation by H&Q Asia Pacific.
Gobi leads $6m round for Malaysia's Carsome
Gobi Partners has led a $6 million funding round for Malaysia-based online used car purchasing platform Carsome.
China automobile services platform Lechebang gets $44m
Lechebang, a Chinese online automobile services platform focused on after-sale services, has completed a RMB300 million ($44 million) Series B round led by Grand Flight Investment.
KKR completes exit from China's Rundong Auto with $51m sale
KKR has fully exited its remaining 11.8% stake in car dealership China Rundong Auto Group for HK$395 million ($50.7 million), ending a seven-year association that included an IPO in Hong Kong in 2014.
HQ exits vehicle parts supplier to Japan’s Hitachi Chemical
HQ Equita, a Germany-based mid-market buyout firm controlled by HQ Capital, has agreed the sale of transportation industry supplier Isolite to Japan’s Hitachi Chemical.
Deal focus: Autoplus primed as industry consolidator
Autoplus is the only independent player of the three groups that dominate used car sales in South Korea. Having bought the business for $97 million, VIG Partners expects the company to strengthen its grip on the market
VIG buys Korean used car retailer for $97m
VIG Partners has agreed to acquire 100% of South Korea-based used car retailer and maintenance provider Autoplus for KRW110 billion ($97 million). The plan is to build the business into a local equivalent of CarMax, which is the leading player in the...
VCs join $400m round for China, US-based EV player
CITIC Securities has led a $400 million funding round - with participation from CDH Investments and National Venture Capital - for China and US-based electric vehicle (EV) supplier Microvast Power Systems.
Volkswagen China invests $180m in VC-backed Mobvoi
Volkswagen's China unit has agreed to invest $180 million in Beijing-based Mobvoi, a venture capital-backed start-up that is developing artificial intelligence (AI) technology for the automotive sector.
China auto trading platform Souche gets $180m Series D
Warburg Pincus has led a $180 million Series D round of funding for Chinese online second-hand car trading platform Souche, less than five months after the company’s previous round worth $100 million.