Cab fare to complete a new $ 600 million in financing, SOFTBANK lead investor
On January 15, the fastest taxi mobile travel platform announced today, the company has completed a new round of financing totaling $ 600 million, SOFTBANK Group led by internationally renowned investment institutions cast, Alibaba group, and Tiger Global Fund is also involved in the investment. Fast says, by virtue of the current round of high finance, quick taxi service experience and will continue to enhance the already existing market position.
Chairman and CEO Lv Chuanwei with taxi drivers, “said another round of funding will help the company continue in greater investments in technology and product innovation, and stabilize and expand the existing market position. We look to the parties to work together to further improve the passengers ‘ travel experience, and sustained positive impact on the urban transport system. ”
Alibaba Group CEO Jonathan Lu said, “the fastest taxi through technology changes the way Chinese cities, is also in the process of improving people’s lives. Alibaba group, will continue to fully support the fast development with taxi drivers, and their confidence in the future. Mobile Internet is entering an exciting phase, we believe the fastest taxi has been well prepared. ”
Analysts also pointed out that fast taxi should be developing car business before, but now car after restricted operation mode, will most likely develop car rental business. In this regard, the cab fare Ye Yun, Director of public relations for Tencent technology says quick taxi does not take into account car rental business at the moment because after the establishment of leasing companies responsible for repair and maintenance of vehicles, as well as matters relating to licences, does not conform to the practices of Internet companies, or want to do asset-light company, through the cooperation development platform by taxi and car rental companies.
Today, China’s biggest Internet companies and venture capital investors to inject a large amount of money for a taxi, hoping to attract more passengers to use their own platform on the Chinese market. These investments up to billions of dollars. Now several major Internet companies in China increased investment in this area, hoping to build a dominant platform, further promoting the development of their own mobile ecosystem, and attract more customers to use their payment services, such as e-commerce platform or online games.
Statistics show that in June 2013, fast access with taxi drivers from Alibaba’s $ 10 million series a investment in November, fastest taxi software completed the acquisition of a share of the Shanghai market of local taxi drivers bumble bees. Meanwhile, the company announced it would invest nearly a billion dollars to support fast taxi. In April 2014, EHI has through wholly-owned subsidiary of Elite Plus Developments Limited invested $ 25 million with taxi drivers.