Uber Buys Blacklane, Drives Harder at Premium Business Travel

Uber announced that it will acquire Blacklane, a Berlin-based chauffeur platform focused on pre-booked premium rides.

The companies did not disclose the price, and the deal is expected to close by the end of 2026, subject to approvals. Blacklane was valued at about $547.32 million after a funding round in October 2024.

How Blacklane differs from traditional ride-hailing

Blacklane was founded in 2011 and says it operates in more than 500 cities across over 60 countries.

Its services include airport transfers, hourly bookings, and longer city-to-city rides, all built around professional drivers and advance reservations. That makes it different from standard ride-hailing, which is usually focused on fast, on-demand urban trips.

Blacklane fits Uber’s growing premium mobility plan

Uber has not said whether Blacklane will keep its own brand after the deal closes.

Uber recently launched Uber Elite, a higher-end service aimed at executives, frequent travelers, and airport runs, with features such as advance booking and meet-and-greet pickups.

In recent months, Uber has also agreed to acquire SpotHero, a parking reservations platform, showing that it wants a bigger role across more parts of the travel and mobility experience.

Photo by Spencer Plouzek on Unsplash