The automobile e-commerce platform industry in Europe revolutionizes how consumers buy and sell vehicles. Companies in this sector range from online marketplace platforms to digital service providers, offering everything from price comparisons and customer reviews to financing solutions and vehicle subscriptions. As online transactions become increasingly popular, players in the market are pushing for frictionless experiences, enhanced transparency, and sustainability initiatives. Emerging trends, like electric vehicle integrations and AI-driven user interactions, indicate that the industry is evolving towards a smarter, more connected future, likely reshaping how people engage with automobiles altogether.


This list features 12 notable investors participating in the European automobile e-commerce platform scene. The investors include venture capital firms, corporate backers, and private equity groups, which vary greatly in size and focus. Most are headquartered in prominent locations like London and Paris, with founding years ranging from 1982 to 2019. In 2024, they collectively executed around 415 deals, illustrating a vibrant engagement in this cutting-edge space. A mix of established firms and newcomers contributes to an energetic investment climate that aims to drive significant innovation in the automotive sector.


Top 12 Automobile E Commerce Platform Investors in Europe


1. Bpifrance French Tech Accélération


Bpifrance French Tech Accélération is a venture capital investor based in Paris, Île-De-France, France, founded in 2015. As a public entity and financial institution, Bpifrance supports entrepreneurs and businesses in France and internationally through various services, including direct funding, export credit insurance, and private equity investments. The organization aims to foster entrepreneurship and innovation, helping businesses navigate growth and international expansion. Notably, Bpifrance has been involved in several transactions relevant to the automobile e commerce platform sector, such as its investment in Getaround, a car-sharing platform that raised $140 million in Series E financing, and Virtuo, which raised approximately $59.7 million in Series C funding. These investments highlight Bpifrance's commitment to supporting innovative solutions in the automotive industry, particularly those that enhance e commerce capabilities.


2. Index Ventures

  • Website: indexventures.com
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: London, England, United Kingdom (UK)
  • Founded year: 1996
  • Headcount: 51-200
  • Number of deals in 2024: 67
  • LinkedIn: index-ventures

Index Ventures is a venture capital firm founded in 1996, based in London, England. The firm invests in innovative startups across various sectors, including technology and healthcare, and is known for providing capital and strategic support to entrepreneurs. Notably, Index Ventures has been involved in significant transactions within the automobile e-commerce platform context, such as leading funding rounds for Motorway, a UK-based online marketplace for used vehicles, which raised $190 million in Series C funding, and Tekion, a provider of a cloud-native automotive SaaS platform that raised $250 million in Series D financing. These investments highlight Index Ventures' commitment to supporting companies that are transforming the automotive industry through technology and e-commerce solutions.


3. SoftBank Investment Advisers


SoftBank Investment Advisers, also known as the SoftBank Vision Fund, is a venture capital fund based in London, England, founded in 2017. The fund focuses on technology-driven companies, particularly those innovating in artificial intelligence. With a diverse portfolio, SoftBank has made significant investments across various sectors, including health tech and fintech. In the automobile e-commerce sector, SoftBank has made notable investments such as €460 million in AUTO1 Group, a Berlin-based online car dealer, which aims to enhance its retail brand Autohero for selling secondhand cars. Additionally, SoftBank participated in funding rounds for CARS24, a platform that raised over $750 million in total across multiple rounds, aimed at expanding its operations in India and enhancing customer experience through technology. These transactions highlight SoftBank's strategic interest in the automobile e-commerce market.


4. Crowdcube

  • Website: crowdcube.com
  • Type: Corporate
  • Headquarters: London, England, United Kingdom (UK)
  • Founded year: 2010
  • Headcount: 51-200
  • Number of deals in 2024: 3
  • LinkedIn: crowdcube-limited

Crowdcube is a London-based crowdfunding platform founded in 2010 that enables businesses to raise capital through equity investments. It connects startups and SMEs with potential investors, facilitating the funding process. Crowdcube has been involved in several notable transactions within the automobile e-commerce sector, including Carwow, which raised over $3.4 million in November 2023, and Auto Lease Compare, which raised an undisclosed amount in November 2019. Additionally, they have supported other automotive-related ventures like Karfu and Mecanicus, showcasing their active role in promoting innovation and growth in the automobile e-commerce industry. Crowdcube also emphasizes diversity and inclusion within its workforce while providing investment management services to its clients.


5. Kima Ventures

  • Website: kimaventures.com
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: Paris, Île-De-France, France
  • Founded year: 2010
  • Headcount: 1-10
  • Number of deals in 2024: 50
  • LinkedIn: kima-ventures

Kima Ventures is a venture capital firm based in Paris, Île-De-France, France, founded in 2010. The firm specializes in investing in early-stage startups across various sectors, backing two startups per week with financial support and mentorship. Among their notable transactions, Kima Ventures has invested in several automobile e-commerce platforms, including CarPrice.ru, which raised $2 million in a seed round in 2014, Reezocar, which secured $3,358,522 in a venture round in 2016, and CapCar, which raised $2,854,319 in a seed round in 2017. These investments highlight Kima Ventures' commitment to supporting innovative companies in the automobile e-commerce space, alongside their broader investment strategy.


6. DST Global

  • Website: dst-global.com
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: London, England, United Kingdom (UK)
  • Founded year: 2009
  • Headcount: 11-50
  • Number of deals in 2024: 24
  • LinkedIn: dst_2

DST Global is a London-based venture capital firm founded in 2009 by Yuri Milner, specializing in internet investments. The firm focuses on identifying and investing in high-growth internet companies globally. Notably, DST Global has made substantial investments in the automobile e-commerce sector, including a Series D investment of $117.6 million in AUTO1 Group in April 2015 and multiple funding rounds for CARS24, including $300.9 million in Series G in December 2021, $200 million in Series E in November 2020, and $100 million in Series D in October 2019. These transactions highlight DST Global's commitment to the automobile e-commerce space, making it a significant player in this industry.


7. HV Capital

  • Website: hvcapital.com
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: Flensburg, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany
  • Founded year: 2000
  • Headcount: 11-50
  • Number of deals in 2024: 28
  • LinkedIn: hvventures

HV Capital is a venture capital firm based in Flensburg, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, founded in 2000. The firm specializes in investing in digital companies and supporting entrepreneurs from seed stage to exit, managing over €2.8 billion in assets. HV Capital has been involved in several notable transactions in the automobile e-commerce sector, including a $10 million Series C investment in Carmudi, a car classified site, and a Series A investment in Carsale24. Additionally, they participated in a $60 million Series B funding round for CarOnSale. These investments highlight HV Capital's commitment to the automobile e-commerce industry, alongside their broader focus on digital startups across Europe.


8. Partech

  • Website: partechpartners.com
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: Paris, Île-De-France, France
  • Founded year: 1982
  • Headcount: 51-200
  • Number of deals in 2024: 24
  • LinkedIn: partech

Partech Partners is a venture capital firm based in Paris, Île-De-France, France, founded in 1982. The firm specializes in providing funding and strategic support to startups across various sectors, particularly in technology. Partech operates globally and has a diverse portfolio of companies. Notably, they have invested in Drover, a London-based subscription car service, participating in both its Series A and Series B funding rounds, which raised £5.5 million and $26 million respectively. This involvement highlights Partech's interest in the automobile e-commerce sector, as Drover aims to scale its operations in the UK and France. Additionally, Partech has been involved in other transactions, but their direct engagement with Drover is particularly relevant to the automobile e-commerce platform context.


9. Rocket Internet SE


Rocket Internet SE is a venture builder based in Berlin, Germany, founded in 2007. The firm specializes in incubating and investing in internet and technology companies globally, providing operational support and capital to entrepreneurs. Their investment portfolio spans various sectors, including eCommerce, PropTech, and FinTech. Notably, Rocket Internet has invested in Dealerdirect Global BV, an online marketplace for second-hand vehicles, which raised €8M in funding to expand its operations in Europe. Additionally, they invested in Carspring, a company focused on the automobile e-commerce space, during its seed round. These transactions highlight Rocket Internet's active role in the automobile e-commerce sector, reinforcing their relevance as an investor in this industry.


10. European Investment Bank (EIB)


The European Investment Bank (EIB) is a public entity based in Luxembourg, established in 1958, that provides financial services including loans, equity investments, guarantees, and advisory services to support sustainable projects across various sectors. EIB's clientele includes both public and private organizations seeking funding for initiatives that promote growth and job creation. In the automotive sector, EIB has made significant investments, such as a €30 million financing agreement with MotorK to support its research and development activities, aimed at enhancing technology solutions for the automotive industry. Additionally, EIB has provided debt financing to companies like Volvo Cars and Eldrive, indicating its active role in supporting innovation and growth within the automotive sector. These transactions highlight EIB's commitment to fostering advancements in mobility and technology, which are crucial for the evolution of automobile e-commerce platforms.


11. Prosus Group

  • Website: prosus.com
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands
  • Founded year: 2019
  • Headcount: 10001+
  • Number of deals in 2024: 21
  • LinkedIn: prosus-group

Prosus Group is a global technology investor and operator based in Amsterdam, Netherlands, focused on enhancing everyday life through technology. Founded in 2019, the firm operates across various sectors, including online classifieds, food delivery, payments, and education technology, serving over two billion customers worldwide. Prosus partners with local entrepreneurs to create valuable products and services, fostering community growth and sustainable business practices. Notably, Prosus has invested in Kovi, a car subscription startup, which received a $100 million investment to expand its operations in Latin America. This investment highlights Prosus's interest in the automotive sector and innovative business models related to car usage, complementing their broader investment strategy.


12. Verdane

  • Website: verdane.com
  • Type: Private Equity
  • Headquarters: Oslo, Oslo, Norway
  • Founded year: 1985
  • Headcount: 51-200
  • Number of deals in 2024: 7
  • LinkedIn: verdane-capital

Verdane is a private equity investment firm based in Oslo, Norway, founded in 1985. The firm specializes in growth equity investments in technology-enabled companies, providing capital and hands-on support to help businesses scale. Verdane focuses on digitalization and decarbonization trends, primarily targeting technology companies looking to enhance their market position and operational efficiency. Notable transactions include their investment in Bildeler, an automotive-related company, which highlights their engagement in the automobile sector. They also invested in Blinto, an online auction platform for used heavy machinery, showcasing their interest in platforms that facilitate the buying and selling of vehicles and equipment. Verdane's acquisition of momox, Europe's largest re-commerce company for used goods, further demonstrates their commitment to the e-commerce space, which is relevant to automobile e-commerce platforms.



Automobile E Commerce Platform Insights: Key Investors in Europe


InvestorHeadquarterSizeFoundedDeals 2024
Bpifrance French Tech AccélérationParis, Île-De-France, France1-102015198
Index VenturesLondon, England, United Kingdom (UK)51-200199667
SoftBank Investment AdvisersLondon, England, United Kingdom (UK)201-500201714
CrowdcubeLondon, England, United Kingdom (UK)51-20020103
Kima VenturesParis, Île-De-France, France1-10201050
DST GlobalLondon, England, United Kingdom (UK)11-50200924
HV CapitalFlensburg, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany11-50200028
PartechParis, Île-De-France, France51-200198224
Rocket Internet SEBerlin, Berlin, Germany201-50020070
European Investment Bank (EIB)Luxembourg1001-5000195899
Prosus GroupAmsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands10001+201921
VerdaneOslo, Oslo, Norway51-20019857


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