CarTrade raises $55 mn afresh to drive growth

CarTrade, India’s leading online automobile classifieds platform, on February 8 said that it has raised $55 million in a fresh round of funding led by Temasek, an investment company based in Singapore, alongside a large US family office. This injection of capital will be used to support CarTrade’s growth plans through acquisitions, expansion into new areas such as auto finance and to further sharpen CarTrade’s services to consumers, dealers and OEMs.

Following the merger of CarTrade with Carwale in January 2016, CarTrade is India’s largest auto classifieds platform. The combined company has about 15 million unique customers per month, a leadership in both used and new cars and partner with approximately 8,000 new and used car dealer partners. The platforms list more than 200,000 used cars for sale and auctions over 200,000 vehicles to the wholesale market every year.

Vinay Sanghi, founder and Chief Executive Officer, CarTrade, said, “CarTrade is on a rapid growth trajectory. The funds raised will be used to drive growth through continued focus on strengthening our dealer and customer services and evaluating potential acquisitions.”

“CarTrade is aggressively looking at the market for used car finance with less then 8% of used cars sold being financed through an organised financier. To address this opportunity CarTrade Finance was recently launched with the aim of financing the inventory for car dealers and to consumers who wish to buy used cars,” he said.

Source: The Financial Express