Last Week’s Auto-Tech Transactions (11/29 – 12/03):

Vehicle Connectivity:

Karamba Security, an Israel-based security startup that focuses on the IoT and automotive industry, announced a $10 million extension to its $12 million Series B round from 2017. (Link to article)

 

Autonomy:

Chinese intelligent visual sensing products and solutions developer METOAK secured nearly 100 million yuan ($15 million) in its Series A+ round, led by semiconductor industry-focused investment firm CTC Capital. (Link to article)

Volvo Cars Tech Fund invests $2M in optics and imaging startup Spectralics. (Link to article)

 

Shared Mobility & Subscription:

YASSIR, an Algerian startup that provides on-demand services such as ride-hailing and last-mile delivery, has raised a $30 million Series A round. (Link to article)

Nigerian MaaS startup Treepz closes $2.8M seed round to fund East African expansion. (Link to article)

Via said on Tuesday it has raised $130 million in fresh capital as part of a late-stage financing round led by asset manager Janus Henderson Investors, valuing the transit-tech startup at $3.3 billion. (Link to article)

 

Electrification:

IONITY, an electric vehicle fast-charging charging network provider whose owners include Daimler AG and Volkswagen AG, has scored a €700 million ($783 million) investment from BlackRock and existing shareholders to expand its footprint across Europe. (Link to article)

WM Motor 威马汽车, a smart electric vehicle manufacturer, announced that it had received $152 million in its D2 round financing. Agile Property Partners, a Chinese land developer, led the investment of $140 million, and Brocade River Merchants Capital participated in this round of financing as the financial adviser. (Link to article)

Factorial Energy, a startup working on solid-state batteries for electric vehicles, has added two more major automakers to its investor sheet: Mercedes-Benz AG-Benz and Stellantis, both of which plan to co-develop batteries in separate joint collaboration agreements. (Link to article)

Porsche’s venture arm has taken a minority stake in 1Komma5°, a five-month-old German startup aiming to offer households everything needed for a carbon neutral home, including energy storage, charging infrastructure for electric vehicles and solar. (Link to article)

 

Dealer Tech & Auto Commerce:

[Portfolio Company Highlight] NuBrakes Scores Major Funding To Expand Mobile Repair Business. The comapny raised a $9m Series A led by Canvas Ventures, with participation from existing investors including Automotive Ventures. (Link to article)

Secondhand car auction platform Motorway hits unicorn status after $190M raise with Index, ICONIQ. Existing investors Latitude Ventures, Unbound, and BMW i Ventures also participated in the round. The startup is now claiming a valuation of over $1bn. (Link to article)

U.K. online used-car market Carzam has raised £112 million from investors as it looks to take on Cazoo and cinch in the battle to woo car buyers over the internet. (Link to article)

Discount Tire, a leading independent retailer of tires and wheels, is acquiring Tire Rack, a leading independent tire tester and consumer-direct source for tires, wheels and performance accessories. (Link to article)

Autolab, Latin America’s leading auto repair and parts platform, has raised $6.5M USD in a Seed+ round of capital and debt. (Link to article)

 

Vehicle Assembly, Supply Chain & Logistics

CloudTrucks wants to use technology to help trucking entrepreneurs operate their business: The California-based startup sells business management software that helps owner-operators manage cash flow and costs, generate revenue, handle insurance, and more, and it just raised a $115 million Series B. (Link to article)

BMW i Ventures announced a lead investment in the Series B financing round of actnano, Inc., a company that has developed a next-generation nanocoating that offers unparalleled protection for electronics across the automotive and consumer electronics markets. (Link to article)

 

Micro-mobility

Upway at a French startup that is building a marketplace for second-hand electric bikes. The startup just raised a $5.7 million (€5 million) seed round from Sequoia Capital and Global Founders Capital. (Link to Article)