Uber strengthens position in chauffeur sector with acquisition of Blacklane

Uber has taken a major move into the global chauffeur sector with the acquisition of chauffeuring platform Blacklane for an undisclosed sum.

The deal is subject to regulatory approval and is expected to be completed by the end of the year. Blacklane was valued at $547.32 million after a funding round in October ‌2024, according to PitchBook data.

The acquisition follows last week’s announcement that Uber was setting up a global chauffeuring platform of its own called Uber Elite. This was being piloted in several US cities with a view to a global roll-out.

However, Blacklane gives Uber the capability to offer an executive service much more quickly, as Blacklane already operates in over 500 cities across more than 60 countries.

Uber said it was targeting executive travel as a lucrative segment of its business, driven by strong demand for planned, high-quality transport services. Pre-booked Uber Reserve trips in particular have become one of the fastest-growing parts of Uber’s mobility business.

An Uber statement was unclear on how Uber Elite and Blacklane might work together. It stated: “After the transaction is complete, the acquisition of Blacklane will further accelerate Uber’s recently-announced move into the chauffeur sector with Uber Elite, and support Uber’s ambition to deliver best-in-class service to more customers around the world.”

Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi hinted that the two services could continue in parallel. “Premium travel is one of the most exciting growth areas of Uber’s business,” he said. “We want to offer the widest selection of options to meet our riders where they are: from the everyday commute to luxury rides.”

It looks likely that the Blacklane brand will continue. Khosrowshahi added: “We’re incredibly impressed by what Blacklane has built and we’re eager to work with them to amplify how we deliver truly exceptional service to more people in cities around the world.”

Blacklane was founded in Berlin, Germany, in 2011 as a platform to offer chauffeur services of a consistent standard on a global basis, connecting customers with independent local chauffeur services via an app and web booking platform.

“Blacklane’s growth to date has been founded on consistently excellent service, wherever in the world our guests move,” said Blacklane founder and CEO Dr. Jens Wohltorf. “Fifteen years after our vision to make premium travel frictionless, we are bringing luxury hospitality expertise to Uber as a leading player in mobility. This partnership marks a significant milestone in Blacklane’s next chapter and is a powerful step-change in introducing our service to new markets globally,”

The statement added that Blacklane and Uber would benefit from each other’s expertise. “Blacklane’s luxury service and specialist knowledge, combined with Uber’s global scale and technology, will deliver a powerful platform for growth,” it said.