|
Mobike, founded in 2015, is one of several bike-sharing services
in China and allows users to find, unlock and pay to rent the
company's bicycles through a smartphone app.
New investors include Chinese travel company Ctrip.com
International, private equity firm TPG Capital and Huazhou
Hotels Group, Mobike said in a statement on Wednesday.
Mobike, which did not disclose its latest valuation, aims to tap
demand from Chinese white-collar workers seeking an alternative
to congested roads and public transport in the country's largest
cities.
Bike-sharing apps have flourished in the past year, even as
investment in other Chinese sharing economy start-ups has
cooled.
One of Mobike's main competitors, ofo, recently raised $130
million from investors including smart hardware business Xiaomi
Inc and taxi-hailing company Didi Chuxing.
The bike services have also been lauded by advocates of China's
goal to build a network of smart cities.
"Our investment in Mobike demonstrates our commitment to
supporting the development of the sharing economy and smart
cities in China," said Tencent Chairman and Chief Executive Pony
Ma in the joint statement.
Previous investors Sequoia Capital and Hillhouse Capital also
participated in the D series funding.
Mobike currently operates in nine cities within China and raised
$100 million as part of an October funding round in which
Tencent also participated.
(Reporting by Cate Cadell; Editing by David Goodman)
[© 2017 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.] Copyright 2017 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
 |
|
