Uber announced on Monday that it has reached an agreement to acquire Blacklane, a global chauffeur service, as part of a push to strengthen its premium ride offering for corporate accounts and high-end consumers.
The companies said the transaction is anticipated to close by the end of 2026, pending regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions. No financial terms were disclosed.
Blacklane, which was founded in 2011 and is based in Berlin, operates in more than 500 cities across upwards of 60 countries. The company connects customers with independent local chauffeur services through a mobile app and a web booking platform and provides a range of services including airport transfers, city-to-city rides and hourly bookings. Mercedes-Benz Mobility AG is among Blacklane's backers.
The acquisition is intended to support Uber Elite, a chauffeur-focused service the rideshare firm launched a few weeks ago for frequent Uber Black riders and corporate account customers in Los Angeles and San Francisco. Uber has said it plans to roll out the Elite service to New York City.
Uber has previously reported that its premium ride categories - including Uber Comfort, SUV and Black - collectively generate more than $10 billion in annualized gross bookings, a figure the company said last year represented a 35% increase from the prior year.
Blacklane was valued at more than 500 million ($574 million) following a 2024 funding round. Investors in that round include Tasaru Mobility Investments, a subsidiary of Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, as well as Gargash Enterprises LLC, Al Fahim Group and RI Digital Ventures.
"Premium travel is one of the most exciting growth areas of Uber's business. We want to offer the widest selection of options to meet our riders where they are: from the everyday commute to luxury rides," said Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi.
Blacklane founder and CEO Dr. Jens Wohltorf said the 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 deal arrives amid growing competition in the luxury ride segment. Last week, London-based Wheely - which focuses on serving business elites and high-net-worth individuals - announced expansion into New York City, its first U.S. market. Five months ago, Lyft Inc. acquired TBR Global Chauffeuring for $110 million.
Shares of Uber were trading roughly flat shortly after the market opened on Monday.
The acquisition is positioned to expand Uber's options for premium riders by integrating Blacklane's network of chauffeur services and booking technology into Uber's ecosystem. The combined offering will touch several market segments, including corporate travel, luxury consumer transport and the broader ride-hailing industry.
Because the agreement remains subject to regulatory approvals and standard closing conditions, the timeline and final structure of the transaction could change. Financial details were not released, leaving the economic terms and their immediate impact on unit economics and margins unspecified.