Bitauto Announces Formation of Special Committee to Consider "Going Private" Proposal

BEIJING,Sept. 19,2019 --Bitauto Holdings Limited ("Bitauto" or the "Company") (NYSE: BITA),a leading provider of internet content & marketing services,and transaction services for China's fast-growing automotive industry,today announced that its Board of Directors (the "Board") has formed a special committee consisting of three independent directors,Mr. Erhai Liu,Ms. Annabelle Yu Long and Mr. Jun Hou,to consider the previously announced preliminary non-binding "going private" proposal set out in a September 12,2019 letter from Tencent Holdings Limited and Hammer Capital. Mr. Liu chairs the special committee. The special committee has retained Skadden,Arps,Slate,Meagher & Flom LLP as its U.S. legal counsel.

The Board cautions the Company's shareholders and others considering trading in its securities that the Board only recently received the non-binding proposal letter and no decisions have been made with respect to the Company's response to the Transaction. There can be no assurance that any definitive offer will be made,that any agreement will be executed or that this or any other transaction will be approved or consummated. The Company does not undertake any obligation to provide any updates with respect to this or any other transaction,except as required under applicable law.

About Bitauto Holdings Limited

Bitauto Holdings Limited (NYSE: BITA) is a leading provider of internet content & marketing services,and transaction services for China's fast-growing automotive industry. Bitauto's business consists of three segments: advertising and subscription business,transaction services business and digital marketing solutions business.

Bitauto's advertising and subscription business provides a variety of advertising services to automakers through the bitauto.com website and corresponding mobile apps which provide consumers with up-to-date automobile pricing and promotional information,specifications,reviews and consumer feedback. Bitauto also provides transaction-focused online advertisements and services for promotional activities to its business partners,including automakers,automobile dealers,auto finance partners and insurance companies. Bitauto offers subscription services via its SaaS platform,which provides web-based and mobile-based integrated digital marketing solutions to new car automobile dealers in China. The SaaS platform enables automobile dealer subscribers to create their own online showrooms,list pricing and promotional information,provide automobile dealer contact information,place advertisements and manage customer relationships to help them reach a broad set of purchase-minded customers and effectively market their automobiles to consumers online.

Bitauto's transaction services business is primarily conducted by its controlled subsidiary,Yixin Group Limited (SEHK: 2858),a leading online automobile finance transaction platform in China,which provides transaction platform services as well as self-operated financing services.

Bitauto's digital marketing solutions business provides automakers with one-stop digital marketing solutions,including website creation and maintenance,online public relations,online marketing campaigns,advertising agent services,big data applications and digital image creation.

For more information,please visit ir.bitauto.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

This announcement contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "will," "expects," "anticipates," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates," "confident" and similar statements. Among other things,the business outlook of the Company and the quotations from management in this announcement,as well as Bitauto's strategic and operational plans,contain forward-looking statements. Bitauto may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its periodic reports to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission,in its annual report to shareholders,in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers,directors or employees to third parties. Statements that are not historical facts,including statements about Bitauto's beliefs and expectations,are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement,including but not limited to the following: our goals and strategies; our future business development,financial condition and results of operations; the expected growth of the automobile industry and the internet marketing industry in China; our expectations regarding demand for and market acceptance of our services and service delivery model; our expectations regarding enhancing our brand recognition; our expectations regarding keeping and strengthening our relationships with major customers,partner websites and media vendors; relevant government policies and regulations relating to our businesses,automobile purchases and ownership in China; our ability to attract and retain quality employees; our ability to stay abreast of market trends and technological advances; competition in our industry in China and internationally; general economic and business conditions in China; and our ability to effectively protect our intellectual property rights and not infringe on the intellectual property rights of others. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in Bitauto's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission,including its annual report on Form 20-F. Bitauto does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement as a result of new information,future events or otherwise,except as required under applicable law. All information provided in this press release and in the attachments is as of the date of this press release,and Bitauto undertakes no duty to update such information,except as required under applicable law.

For investor and media inquiries,please contact:

China

Suki Li

Bitauto Holdings Limited

Phone: +86-10-6849-2145

ir@bitauto.com

ClarissePan

Foote Group

Phone: +86-10-8429-9544

bitauto@thefootegroup.com

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