Uber is stepping up its activity in the premium travel segment. A few days after announcing the launch of Uber Elite in the United States, the VTC giant is adding a new asset through external growth. Uber announced on 30 March the acquisition of Blacklane. The chauffeur service, positioned on global premium mobility, is intended to strengthen Uber's appeal in the business segment. "Business travel is one of the fastest-growing segments of Uber's business, driven by strong demand for planned, high-quality transport services," the company assures in its press release.
" Premium travel is one of the most promising growth areas for Uber's business. » indicates Dara Khosrowshahi. The Uber CEO continues: « We want to offer the widest selection of options to meet our passengers' needs, from daily commutes to luxury trips. We are extremely impressed with what Blacklane has built and look forward to collaborating with them to amplify our ability to offer a truly exceptional service to more people in cities around the world. ".
The acquisition of Blacklane entering 15 years after its creation in Germany. Since then, the chauffeur-driven vehicle service has established itself in over 500 cities, in around sixty countries. Jens Wohltorf, founder and CEO of Blacklane, testifies: “ Blacklane's growth has been built from the outset on consistently excellent service, wherever our clients travel in the world. Fifteen years after our vision to make premium travel seamless, we are bringing our luxury hospitality expertise to Uber, a major player in mobility. This partnership marks a decisive step in Blacklane's next chapter and represents a powerful shift in scale to introduce our service to new markets globally. ".
However, regulatory approvals still need to be obtained, but Uber intends to finalise the transaction by the end of 2026.
