Uber to buy Blacklane to expand its luxury travel services

Uber $UBER has agreed to acquire Blacklane, a Berlin-based chauffeur booking platform operating in more than 500 cities across over 60 countries, the company said. Financial terms were not disclosed.

This acquisition aims to speed up Uber’s move into executive and luxury travel. Uber Elite, a chauffeur service, is already available to Uber Black regulars and business account holders in Los Angeles and San Francisco, with plans to launch in New York soon. The deal should close by the end of 2026 if regulators approve.

Blacklane, founded in 2011, links travelers with local chauffeur operators through its app and website. Bloomberg reports that after a 2024 funding round, the company was valued at over €500 million ($574 million). Its investors include Mercedes-Benz Mobility AG, Tasaru Mobility Investments (owned by Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund), and several Gulf-based firms such as Gargash Enterprises LLC, Al Fahim Group, and RI Digital Ventures.

Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi said in a statement that the company wants to offer riders options ranging from everyday commutes to luxury rides, and called premium travel "one of the most exciting growth areas" of Uber's business. Blacklane founder and CEO Dr. Jens Wohltorf said the deal marks a milestone in the company's expansion into new global markets.

The luxury ride-hailing segment is becoming more competitive. Wheely, a London-headquartered app targeting corporate clients and high-net-worth riders, said last week it would enter New York City — its first U.S. market, according to Bloomberg. The move echoes Lyft $LYFT's $110 million purchase of TBR Global Chauffeuring, completed five months ago.

Uber's higher-end ride categories — Comfort, SUV, and Black — tallied annualized gross bookings above $10 billion in the most recent year, a 35% jump from the year prior, according to Bloomberg.