China Auto Renting Inc.

Corporate brand

China Auto Renting Inc. (Shenzhou Zuche / CAR Inc.) is a leading Chinese car-rental company founded in Beijing in 2007, formerly listed in Hong Kong and now wholly owned by MBK Partners.

Last updated September 26, 2026

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Overview

China Auto Renting Inc., widely known by its Chinese brand name Shenzhou Zuche (神州租车), is one of China's largest car-rental companies. It was registered in Beijing in September 2007 and built a nationwide self-drive rental network serving both leisure travellers and corporate customers. The company operates under the consumer-facing brand 神州租车 and markets itself as a major Asian car-rental brand, advertising a nationwide footprint of around a thousand service outlets, a fleet spanning more than 100 vehicle models, unlimited mileage, and 24/7 customer service. The business grew rapidly through the 2010s on the back of China's expanding travel and mobility market, combining short-term self-drive rentals with longer-term corporate leasing and related mobility services. It listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange on 19 September 2014 under stock code 00699, giving it access to public capital to expand its fleet and network. The company is incorporated in the Cayman Islands, a common structure for Chinese companies listing offshore. Ownership changed significantly in the early 2020s. On 5 July 2021, MBK Partners (安博凯基金) completed a full acquisition of the company, making it a wholly owned subsidiary of the private-equity firm. Shortly afterwards, on 8 July 2021, the shares were delisted from the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, ending its period as a publicly traded company. Today China Auto Renting Inc. continues to operate the Shenzhou Zuche rental brand across China, competing in a market that includes both traditional rental operators and newer app-based mobility platforms. Its positioning emphasises convenience — smart pick-up and return, no pre-authorisation or traffic-violation deposits, and round-the-clock service — alongside a broad vehicle selection and extensive outlet coverage.

History

China Auto Renting Inc. was registered in Beijing in September 2007, at a time when China's self-drive car-rental market was still nascent but growing quickly alongside rising domestic travel and car ownership. Operating under the Chinese brand name Shenzhou Zuche (神州租车), the company set out to build a nationwide rental network rather than a regional one, targeting both individual travellers and corporate clients. Through the 2010s the company expanded its fleet and outlet footprint across major Chinese cities and transport hubs, positioning itself as a large-scale Asian car-rental brand. Its consumer proposition combined a wide choice of vehicle models, unlimited mileage on rentals, and round-the-clock customer service, supported by a network that the company describes as reaching around a thousand outlets nationwide. A major milestone came on 19 September 2014, when the company listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange under stock code 00699. The listing gave it public-market capital to fund fleet growth and network expansion, and made it one of the more visible listed players in China's car-rental sector. The company is incorporated in the Cayman Islands, consistent with the offshore holding structures commonly used by Chinese issuers listing in Hong Kong. In the early 2020s the company's ownership and listing status changed decisively. On 5 July 2021, MBK Partners (安博凯基金) completed a full acquisition of China Auto Renting Inc., making it a wholly owned subsidiary of the private-equity firm. Three days later, on 8 July 2021, the company was delisted from the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, ending its roughly seven-year run as a public company. Following the take-private, China Auto Renting Inc. has continued to operate the Shenzhou Zuche rental brand in China. It competes in a market that has evolved to include app-based mobility and car-sharing platforms alongside established rental operators, and it continues to emphasise convenience features such as smart pick-up and return, no pre-authorisation, no traffic-violation deposit, and 24/7 service.

2021
MBK Partners completed a full acquisition on 5 July 2021, making the company a wholly owned subsidiary.
2021
Delisted from the Hong Kong Stock Exchange on 8 July 2021.
2014
Listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange on 19 September 2014 under stock code 00699.
2007
Registered in Beijing in September 2007.

Products and positioning

Mass-market, nationwide self-drive car-rental brand emphasising convenience, broad fleet choice and extensive outlet coverage.

Self-drive car rental
Short-term rental of passenger vehicles through a nationwide outlet network.
Corporate car leasing
Longer-term vehicle leasing and fleet services for business customers.

Recent events

2021-12-02
神州租车 receives Qingdao Traffic Safety Contribution Award[4]神州租车荣获青岛市交通安全贡献奖finance.qingdaonews.com
神州租车 received the 2021 Qingdao Traffic Safety Contribution Award at an event held in Qingdao.
2021-07-05
MBK Partners completes full acquisition of CAR Inc.[5]MBK Partners完成对神州租车的全资收购promote.caixin.com
MBK Partners completed its full acquisition of CAR Inc. on July 5, making CAR Inc. its wholly owned subsidiary. The article also reported that CAR Inc. was scheduled to delist from the Hong Kong Stock Exchange on July 8.
2021-07-05
CAR Inc. announces its Hong Kong listing will be withdrawn[6]神州租车公告将从香港联交所退市finance.sina.com.cn
Reported: 2021-07-05
CAR Inc. announced that its listing on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange would be withdrawn effective July 8, 2021, at 9:00 a.m.
2021-07-05
Indigo Glamour completes compulsory acquisition of CAR Inc.[6]神州租车公告将从香港联交所退市finance.sina.com.cn
Reported: 2021-07-05
Indigo Glamour Company Limited completed the compulsory acquisition of CAR Inc.’s remaining offer shares, making CAR Inc. its wholly owned subsidiary and completing CAR Inc.’s privatization.
2021-01-31
MBK launches privatization offer for CAR Inc.[7]MBK启动神州租车私有化要约finance.sina.com.cn
Reported: 2021-02-01
MBK Partners launched a conditional voluntary full cash takeover offer for CAR Inc. on the evening of January 31, beginning its privatization offer process; completion was conditional on the offer reaching the required acceptance level.
2020-07-24
BAIC investment company agrees to acquire an 8% stake in Car Inc.[8]北汽投资公司同意收购神州租车约8%股份finance.sina.com.cn
Reported: 2020-07-28
Jinggangshan BAIC Investment Management agreed to buy at least 170.7 million shares of Car Inc. from Amber Gem for HK$3.10 per share, totaling HK$529 million, equivalent to approximately 8% of Car Inc.
2020-07-20
SAIC subsidiary terminates proposed Shenzhou Rental acquisition[9]上汽子公司终止拟收购神州租车交易finance.sina.com.cn
Reported: 2020-07-20
SAIC Group announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, SAIC Hong Kong, had decided to terminate its proposed acquisition of shares in Shenzhou Rental after the transaction parties failed to agree on closing conditions within the planned timeframe.
2020-07-02
SAIC subsidiary announces proposed stake acquisition in CAR Inc.[10]上汽集团子公司宣布拟收购神州租车股份news.pedaily.cn
Reported: 2020-07-03
SAIC Motor’s wholly owned subsidiary SAIC Hong Kong proposed to acquire up to approximately 28.9% of CAR Inc. from UCAR and Amber Gem for cash at HK$3.10 per share, for no more than approximately HK$1.9 billion. The acquisition was proposed and had not yet been reported as completed.
2020-07-02
SAIC announces proposed investment in Shenzhou Car Rental[11]上汽集团宣布拟投资收购神州租车股份finance.sina.com.cn
Reported: 2020-07-03
SAIC Group announced that its wholly owned subsidiary SAIC Hong Kong planned to buy up to 610 million shares in Shenzhou Car Rental from UCAR and Amber Gem for up to HK$19.02 billion. If completed, SAIC expected to hold 28.92% of Shenzhou Car Rental and become its largest shareholder.
2020-06-09
Lu Zhengyao resigns as chairman of Car Inc.[12]陆正耀辞去神州租车董事会主席职务finance.sina.com.cn
Reported: 2020-06-10
Car Inc. announced that Lu Zhengyao resigned as board chairman and non-executive director, effective June 9, 2020.

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