Uber said on the 30th (local time) that it will acquire Berlin-based startup Blacklane to bolster its premium car-hailing service. The acquisition price was not disclosed, and the transaction is expected to close by the end of the year.
Founded in 2011, Blacklane is a chauffeur booking platform that operates in more than 500 cities across about 60 countries. It raised more than $100 million from major investors, including Mercedes-Benz.
With this acquisition, Uber plans to strengthen its recently introduced premium "Uber Elite" service. Uber Elite is a premium service that offers chauffeur bookings, airport pickups and escorting, and 24-hour phone support. It is currently available to some premium users and corporations in Los Angeles and San Francisco and will expand to major cities such as New York.