InforCapital
Startup Fundraising

CARSOME Raises $30M+ for China Tech & SEA Growth

CARSOME lands strategic $30M+ funding led by HKIC, boosting China tech ties and Southeast Asia expansion. Profitability climbs.

AM
Alvaro de la Maza

Partner at Aninver

Key Takeaways

  • CARSOME raised $30.0M from Hong Kong Investment Corporation Limited, Gobi Partners, Asia Partners, Japan Consumer Credit Service.
  • Sector: Technology, Software & Gaming, Financial Services & Fintech.
  • Geography: Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, Hong Kong, China.

Analysis

Southeast Asia's leading integrated car e-commerce platform, CARSOME, has successfully closed a strategic funding round surpassing USD 30 million. This significant capital injection was spearheaded by Hong Kong Investment Corporation Limited (HKIC), with continued backing from established partners Gobi Partners and Asia Partners. The investment underscores a growing investor conviction in CARSOME's path towards sustained profitability and its ambitious regional expansion plans.

The strategic alignment with HKIC, a state-backed investment entity, signals a pivotal move to bolster connections between the burgeoning Southeast Asian market and Greater China. CARSOME intends to leverage this partnership to tap into advanced automotive technologies, enhance supply chain sourcing capabilities, and foster technological collaborations within the Greater China region. This initiative positions Hong Kong as a crucial gateway for cross-border automotive innovation and trade.

CARSOME, headquartered in Malaysia and operating across Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, and Singapore, has demonstrated robust financial performance. For the fiscal year 2025, the company reported its second consecutive year of profitability, with EBITDA more than doubling year-on-year to reach USD 23 million. Gross profit saw a healthy 16% increase, totaling USD 142 million, driven primarily by strong performance in its Malaysian and Singaporean operations.

The newly acquired capital will be strategically deployed to accelerate profitable growth across CARSOME's existing Southeast Asian footprint. Key areas of focus include deepening supply chain sourcing and cross-border procurement, cultivating technology partnerships within Greater China, advancing data analytics and artificial intelligence applications in the automotive sector, and scaling its regional operations. This infusion of funds is expected to propel CARSOME's market leadership and operational efficiency.

Eric Cheng, Co-founder and CEO of CARSOME, highlighted the strategic importance of the funding, stating, "This strategic collaboration and fundraise is a vote of confidence in our continued momentum and long-term vision. This partnership gives us crucial access to innovation capabilities, cross-border networks, and world-class talent." Echoing this sentiment, Clara Chan, CEO of HKIC, remarked, "Carsome exemplifies the type of high-conviction, technology-driven enterprise that aligns with the HKIC's mandate. We look forward to supporting forward-thinking companies like CARSOME in creating tangible value."

This funding round builds upon CARSOME's recent financial activities, including a USD 36 million working capital facility secured from MUFG Bank in November 2025 and a strategic investment where Japan Consumer Credit Service acquired a 49% stake in CARSOME's financial arm earlier in February 2025. These prior transactions underscore CARSOME's proactive approach to diversifying its capital structure and forging strategic alliances to support its ambitious growth trajectory in the dynamic automotive e-commerce landscape.