Chinese technology conglomerate Tencent Holdings is leading a new funding round of up to USD 400 million for online car services platform Tuhu.
Tuhu, founded in 2011, was valued at around USD 1.1 billion in its last funding round in September 2018. Its platform takes orders for tire changes, car washes, parts installation and other maintenance services that are filled by partner shops in more than 200 Chinese cities.
Liu Erhai, founder and managing partner at Joy Ventures, an early investor in the Shanghai-based startup, said in Hong Kong on Tuesday that Tuhu had just closed a funding round of between USD 300 and USD 400 million. He told the Nikkei Asian Review that Tencent was the lead investor. Another source familiar with the matter confirmed the news.
Tencent, which is to report its quarterly results later on Wednesday, also took the largest part in its car-service startup’s USD 450 million Series E funding round last September. US venture capital firm Sequoia Capital and investment bank Goldman Sachs were among key investors then.
Although the amount raised in the latest round is smaller than the last, analysts said that it was still a good result considering the slump in startup financing now and the weak automobile market.
New car sales in China, the world’s largest market, fell for a 16th consecutive month in October, on track to pose its second year-on-year decline in almost three decades, data from the country’s biggest auto industry association showed.
However, revenue in the after-sales market in China, including in automotive parts, insurance, used cars, automotive beauty, and accessories, is expected to increase to USD 523.8 billion by 2025 from USD 290.4 billion in 2017, according to a 2018 report published by US research company Frost & Sullivan.
“Overall auto sales are declining, and capital is struggling to find opportunities. So, many turn to the aftermarket for growth,” said Feng Linyan, an analyst at Beijing-based research company EqualOcean, adding that Tencent’s investments also follow closely the developments of the industry.
In 2017, Tencent invested in electric car startups Nio and WM Motor Technology as the Chinese government gave out heavy subsidies to support the new industry. Tencent also threw its weight behind self-driving technologies in 2018, investing in several such startups including Momenta.
Feng said that Tencent is now focusing on opportunities in vehicle services, as demonstrated by its recent investments in used-car trading platform Auto Streets, car media platform Youcheyihou.com, as well as car financing company Linkfin Technology.
Tuhu and Tencent did not reply to requests for comment.