Uber China closes $1b funding round

Uber expects to be approved and stand on legal ground after China passes a regulation on tailored taxi services. PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY

Uber Technologies Inc's China arm has closed its $1 billion fundraising round early, according to two people with knowledge of the matter, with investors still hopeful for the United States-based ride service despite strong domestic competition.

Investors in Uber's China unit include Internet giant Baidu Inc, China CITIC Bank Corp Ltd and China Life Insurance Co Ltd, among others, said one of the people, requesting anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly.

Chinese financial conglomerate Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China Ltd's investment arm and Hillhouse Capital, which has a stake in the main US-based Uber business, also took part, the person said.

However, a representative of Ping An's investment team said they did not invest in the China unit. Hillhouse was also not an investor, said a third source who declined to be identified because of the sensitivity of the subject.

With the close of the $1 billion round, Uber is re-lining its war chest for a drawn-out battle with Chinese car-hailing app rival Didi Kuaidi, which last month raised $2 billion.

The two are locked in a turf war, spending heavily on subsidies to lower the cost for users and inflate the money earned for drivers of their services.