Taiwanese booking platform FUNNOW Group will acquire an approximately 10% stake through a strategic investment by Hotai Motor. The company will step up its business partnership with chicTrip and pursue international expansion and AI adoption, beginning with the Japanese market.
Taiwanese automotive major Hotai Motor will invest US$10 million in FUNNOW Group and acquire an approximately 10% stake. The investment is expected to advance FUNNOW’s business partnership with chicTrip, Hotai Motor’s travel-planning platform subsidiary, while funding FUNNOW’s international market expansion, AI technology enhancement and IPO preparations. The investment is aligned with FUNNOW’s plan to transition its B2C model to B2AI2C and streamline local bookings.
The partnership will focus on the Japanese market, integrating FUNNOW’s booking functions into chicTrip and making Japan its first overseas market. Japan is a popular destination for Taiwanese travelers, with the number of Taiwanese visitors to Japan exceeding 4.67 million in January–July 2026, up 20.85% from the same period a year earlier, according to statistics. The companies will introduce a system that simplifies bookings for local restaurants and experiences, strengthening the integration between itinerary planning and local reservations.