Chauffeur Service Blacklane Notches $26 Million For Expansion

Chauffeur service Blacklane, based in Berlin, has taken on the Big Apple this month, launching a new service in New York City. The company announced Wednesday (March 24) that it has raised 22 million euros (about $26 million) from existing shareholders.

A press release said that the additional cash will be used to expand its intercity and other chauffeur services and “make new green travel investments.” Blacklane claims that “since 2017, the company has been carbon-neutral.”

With its New York City debut, Blacklane is directly challenging Uber and Lyft in the short-distance passenger trip business there.

The new service comes just months after the company began offering city-to-city service for fixed rates in response to the pandemic-fueled collapse of its core market of serving major airports.

The Wall Street Journal reported that, looking ahead, Blacklane’s plan is to roll out the short-distance passenger trip service in dozens of cities across the United States and globally.

“The global travel and mobility industries have suffered, with several players struggling between drastic cuts, hibernation or ceasing operations. Blacklane has taken the opportunity to cater to travelers’ emerging needs,” Blacklane Co-Founder and CEO Jens Wohltorf said in the release. “Thanks to this financing, we will continue to fast-track our innovation, with zero layoffs.”

Blacklane offers fully trained drivers, according to the company’s website. Drivers must be “dependable, motivated, professional and have a polished appearance.” In addition, Blacklane offers luxury vehicles, including Mercedes sedans and Cadillacs. Daimler AG is a major investor.

The release said its customers appreciate “comfortable door-to-door alternatives to trains and short-haul flights” along with “privacy, sanitized vehicles, and personalized departure times.” Now, Blacklane’s intercity trips, with flat rates, reach 32 countries on five continents.

The short-rides service now takes in such cities as Dubai, London, Los Angeles, New York, Paris and Singapore. The charges are by distance only, the company said, eliminating surges in price.

In February, the company said it had taken a majority stake in Havn, London’s all-electric chauffeur service. “This will accelerate the electrification” of Blacklane’s global fleet, the company said.