[이코노믹리뷰=최진홍 기자] Kakao Mobility announced on the 18th that it has attracted $200 million in investment from the Carlyle Group, a global investor. The attention is focused on the clear actions of players leading the domestic mobility industry.
This Carlisle investment attraction took place three and a half years after the TPG investment in 2017. It has been evaluated for its corporate value of KRW 3.42 trillion (based on post money), and while expectations for the domestic mobility market are growing, it is evaluated that it shows the competitiveness of Kakao Mobility, a leader in the domestic mobility industry, and the potential for explosive mid- to long-term growth.
As market leader Kakao Mobility secures large-scale funds, it is expected to revitalize the overall growth of the domestic mobility industry.
Kakao Mobility’s strategic move is expected to accelerate.
Kakao Mobility connects everything from short distances to metropolitan transportation such as bicycles, shuttles, intercity buses, and trains, starting with taxis, and has grown Kakao T into the nation’s largest MaaS (Mobility as a Service) platform used by 28 million people. . In that extension, the spectrum is greatly expanded by securing about 20 million owners of own vehicles who use navigation, parking, and proxy driving.
Last year, despite the impact of Corona 19, it continued explosive growth by leading the diversification of taxi services such as Kakao T Venti and Kakao T Blue, improving service quality, and securing parking rights for major landmarks such as COEX and Everland. . Furthermore, it has launched a business home to lay the foundation for expanding the B2B business, and is introducing new services such as shuttles, intercity buses, and trains one after another.
Gung-seon Ryu, CEO of Kakao Mobility, said, “Based on this investment, we have grown to a level that can compete with global players in terms of technology as well as scale, solving all inconveniences of mobility and creating a more relaxed and valuable daily life. “As a representative player in the domestic mobility industry, we will actively cooperate with various companies including startups to build a virtuous cycle structure that enables the entire domestic mobility ecosystem to grow based on Kakao T. “I said.
Kim Jong-yoon, Managing Director of Carlisle Asia Partners, said, “Kakao Mobility has grown into the nation’s largest MaaS platform based on its excellent data analysis and technical capabilities under the leadership of a management with extensive experience. “I am very pleased to have this partnership, and through Carlyle’s expertise in technology and IT and its global network, we will promote the growth of Kakao Mobility and contribute to creating long-term value for society by driving innovation.”