Entry into the premium segment: Uber acquires Berlin startup Blacklane
With the acquisition of the Berlin chauffeur app Blacklane, the US ride-hailing provider Uber is focusing more on the lucrative premium customer business.
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The US group Uber is taking over the Berlin-based premium taxi service Blacklane, further expanding its offering in the luxury and business travel segment. The US ride-hailing provider announced this on Monday.
Blacklane was founded in Berlin in 2011. The company offers an on-demand chauffeur service with limousines, connecting passengers with local chauffeur services via an app and a web booking platform. The fares of the Berlin start-up are significantly higher than those of taxis or ride-hailing providers like Uber or Lyft. However, it promises higher reliability and better service. Blacklane is currently active in over 500 cities in more than 60 countries in Europe, the Middle East, Asia, South America, and North America. Among others, the car manufacturer Mercedes-Benz is invested in Blacklane is involved with Blacklane.
Uber announced that the acquisition still requires regulatory approval and is expected to be completed by the end of this year. The US group did not disclose a purchase price. According to information from Handelsblatt According to Handelsblatt information, the sum is said to be in the mid-three-digit million euro range.
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Entry into the Premium Business
The acquisition of Blacklane will “further accelerate Uber's recently announced entry into the chauffeur sector with Uber Elite and support Uber's goal of offering premium service to more customers worldwide,” the US company explained in its announcement. Uber Elite is currently only available in Los Angeles and San Francisco and combines chauffeur service with a range of luxury offerings such as better-equipped limousines, airport reception, and 24/7 phone support. Uber is convinced that both companies will benefit from each other's expertise. The combination of Blacklane's luxurious service and Uber's global reach and technology forms a “powerful platform for growth”.
Under the leadership of CEO Dara Khosrowshahi, Uber is trying to expand its high-end premium business. “Premium travel is one of Uber's most exciting growth areas,” said the Uber CEO. “We are very impressed with Blacklane's performance and look forward to working with them to further expand our exceptional service to even more people in cities around the world.”
(akn)
