Beijing Momenta Technology Co., a Chinese self-driving developer, has reportedly filed for an initial public offering (IPO) in the United States. The company’s decision to go public in the US is notable, given the warming reception of Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) technology in China. However, it is speculated that Momenta’s self-driving tech may not receive the same level of enthusiasm in the US.
This hesitation is primarily attributed to the perceptions of US investors and regulators regarding Chinese companies and their government ties. Despite being backed by General Motors, one of the top three automakers in the United States, Momenta also has connections to Chinese state-owned company SAIC Motor Corp and Yungeng Capital, founded by billionaire Jack Ma. The complex network of affiliations adds another layer of complexity to Momenta’s potential IPO in the US.
Reports from Bloomberg indicate that Momenta has been working with financial firms such as China International Capital Corp., Goldman Sachs Group Inc., and UBS Group AG to facilitate its IPO listing in the United States. The company aims to raise between $200 million to $300 million from the share sale, a significant reduction from its initial target of $1 billion. In the past, there were rumors suggesting that Momenta was considering an IPO either in the US or Hong Kong.
Given the evolving dynamics between China and the US, particularly in the realm of technology and finance, the decision-making process behind Momenta’s IPO is a topic of keen interest and scrutiny for industry observers.