Rental giant Sixt invests in Blacklane to drive growth into North American markets

German car rental giant Sixt has announced a major investment in chauffeur app Blacklane, which will extend Blacklane’s global reach.

Blacklane and Sixt will work jointly on expanding their footprint in international markets, initially with a special focus on North America, the most important growth market for both companies.

Blacklane’s chauffeur services will be available via the Sixt app in the US and other international markets in 2024, offering Blacklane as the additional premium mobility option on the platform.

The partnership will also benefit both companies by leveraging Sixt’s fleet capabilities and connected services. This will offer guests and chauffeur partners an even broader choice of vehicles and services.

Nico Gabriel, chief operating officer at Sixt, said: “We are committed to providing premium mobility solutions in car rental, carsharing, subscription, and ride-hailing services. We welcome Blacklane on board as an additional valued partner in our mobility ecosystem and are looking forward jointly to create synergies for our business with this partnership.”

Blacklane CEO and co-founder Dr. Jens Wohltorf (pictured) said: “We are thrilled to win Sixt as our partner and investor in this funding round. Their extensive experience in the ground transportation and travel industry, combined with our expertise in premium chauffeur services, create a powerful bond that will drive both companies’ global growth and innovation and solidify Blacklane’s position as industry leader.”

The investment marks the second closing of Blacklane’s series F funding, providing Blacklane with a significant. The first round of this F series was backed by prominent investors Mercedes-Benz Mobility and Gargash Group, driving Blacklane’s growth in the Middle East.

Blacklane quadrupled year-on-year revenues in 2022, and now plans to accelerate its growth by investing in new services such as its City-to-city programme, connecting metropolitan areas via 127 routes in 11 countries. The funding round will also contribute to the expansion of Blacklane’s German and global employee base of 300, driving the company’s growth and further strengthening its presence in its domestic market as well as abroad.

Additionally, the funding will support Blacklane’s sustainability efforts by implementing innovative mobility solutions. The company is committed to deliver 15% of its rides with electric vehicles by the end of 2023, and 50% by 2025.