CarDekho parent to launch platforms for batteries, other auto segments

Jaipur-based Girnar Software Pvt Ltd is looking to launch several verticals related to the automobile segment, as the company behind CarDekho and BikeDekho portals continues to expand aggressively after making a series of acquisitions over the past year and a half.

"We are working on a lot of verticals associated with auto. You should see a portal on services, a portal on batteries, on light commercial vehicles, and insurance," Amit Jain, co-founder of Girnar Soft, told Techcircle.in. "You will also see us getting into hyperlocal services for roadside assistance."

Jain said the company aims to launch all these products in the next three to four months.

The company typically launches a content-based platform for every vertical and later changes it into a commerce platform. Jain confirmed that all the new products will see a transition from a being a content platform to a transaction-enabled platform.

"This financial year all our products will evolve from a content-based platform to a commerce platform including TyreDekho and TruckDekho," he said.

CarDekho is also expanding aggressively in the foreign market under the CarBay brand. The product is live in Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam. It will also look to replicate its new products in the international market.

"From the second half of this year we will start focusing on the Middle East and African regions. We have already launched a bike platform in Indonesia. You will see all the stuff including tyres, batteries in the foreign market," said Jain.

According to Jain, the company is looking for acquisitions in Southeast Asia and may strike two international deals in the next six months. Girnar Soft is also in talks with a couple of local companies for acquisitions, he added.

Girnar Soft, founded in 2007 by siblings Amit and Anurag Jain, owns CarDekho.com, Gaadi.com, Zigwheels.com, BikeDekho.com, TyreDekho.com and BuyingIQ. The six portals collectively clock 30 million unique visitors every month, Girnar Soft claims.

The company acqui-hired augmented reality startup Drishya360s for an undisclosed amount last month. In September, it had acquired Zigwheels.com for an undisclosed amount. Times Internet Ltd invested in Girnar Soft as part of the Zigwheels.com transaction. Earlier, Girnar Soft bought price comparison site BuyingIQ and auto portal Gaadi.com. Also in December, Girnar Soft invested $1 million in edu-tech startup CollegeDekho.

Girnar Soft had raised $50 million (around Rs 307 crore then) about a year ago from Chinese investment management firm Hillhouse Capital and Hong Kong-based hedge fund Tybourne Capital with participation from existing investor Sequoia Capital. The investment was done at a post-money valuation of $300 million.

In February last year, Tata Sons chairman emeritus Ratan Tata invested an undisclosed amount in the company.