Automakers take the driving seat in transport startups

As automobiles get more connected and smart, automakers too have their task cut out. They are investing in startups that work not on assembly lines, but on technologies like Artificial Intelligence and Internet of Things.

Automobile manufacturing companies in India are generally perceived to have a traditional mindset. Of late, however, they have tried to effect a makeover by getting involved with the new age startup ecosystem. Automakers, and even their promoters in an individual capacity, are investing in startups in the automobile, logistics and transport sector.

As automobiles get more connected and smart, automakers are investing in startups that work not on assembly lines, but on technologies like Artificial Intelligence and Internet of Things.

Here is a list of seven startups that have biggies from the automobile industry aligning their vision with their smaller counterparts, both in India and abroad to disrupt the sector.

Lynk Logistics

Chennai-based truck aggregator Lynk Logistics, founded by Abinav Raja and Shekhar Bhende, is co-funded by Vinod Dasari, MD of Ashok Leyland, apart from Ramco Group.

Lynk operates like a cab aggregator, but partners with truck owners who attach their fleet with the platform.

SmartShift

Mahindra & Mahindra-run logistic marketplace SmartShift was merged with Porter (Resfeber Labs Private Ltd), an on-demand logistics solutions provider in the goods transportation space, in February this year but the financials of the deal were not disclosed.

As part of the deal, M&M committed to invest $10 million (Rs 65 crore) in the merged entity, with Porter’s Co-founder Pranav Goel at the helm (he is the CEO of the merged entity). This was also the Mahindra Group’s second investment in Porter, which was earlier backed by Sequoia Capital and Kae Capital, among others.

Carcrew

Car servicing startup Carcrew Technology Pvt Ltd is backed by the TVS group. The startup offers end-to-end maintenance service, and recently bought Delhi-based ClickGarage, run by Sui Generis Innovations Private Ltd in a stock and cash deal.

RentOnGo

TVS Motors last year acquired 24 percent stake in RentOnGo, a Bengaluru-based start-up run by Condivision Solutions. The firm is an online marketplace to renting motorbikes. The two-wheeler and three-wheeler maker invested Rs 1.5 crore in the startup, founded in 2012 by Nikhil Chhabra and Vikash Jalan.

Zoomcar

In February this year self-drive car rental startup Zoomcar India Private Limited raised $40 million in Series C funding round led by automobile maker Mahindra and Mahindra Ltd. Existing investors, including Ford Smart Mobility and others participated in the funding round.

Ola

Ratan Tata, Chairman Emeritus of Tata Sons Ltd, in July 2015 invested an undisclosed amount in Ola, run by ANI Technologies Pvt Ltd, in his personal capacity.

RNT Capital Advisers, a collaboration of Ratan Tata’s privately held investment firm RNT Associates Pvt Ltd and the University of California, also invested Rs 268 crore in the cab aggregator last year.

Ola is also reportedly looking to forge an alliance with Tata Motors to launch an Electric Vehicle version of the Nano.

Uber

Tata Opportunity Fund has invested in Uber Technologies in 2015. Uber, in a blog post then, had said, “Uber and Tata Opportunities Fund (TOF), the flagship private equity fund advised by Tata Capital, announced that TOF will make a significant investment in Uber, the first such investment made by TOF in a global company with headquarters outside India, and underscores their confidence in Uber”.