- Updated: March 30, 2026
- 3 min read
Uber Acquires Blacklane to Strengthen Uber Elite Luxury Offering
In Brief Posted: 7:46 AM PDT · March 30, 2026 Image Credits:Uber Sean O’Kane Uber is buying Berlin startup Blacklane to bolster its ‘Elite’ offering Uber is buying Berlin-based startup Blacklane, which provides on-demand, black-car chauffeur services, as the ride-hail giant expands deeper into luxury and executive travel services.It’s a notable exit for Blacklane, which was founded in 2011 and has raised more than $100 million to date from rental car company Sixt, Mercedes-Benz, and ALFAHIM, a conglomerate in the UAE. Uber said the acquisition still needs regulatory approvals, but expects it to close by the end of this year. The two companies didn’t disclose financial terms of the deal.The acquisition comes just a few weeks after Uber announced the launch of Uber Elite, which combines a chauffeur service with a number of luxury offerings like in-vehicle amenities, airport meet-and-greets, and 24/7 phone support. Uber Elite is starting small, in just Los Angeles and San Francisco, with New York City on the horizon. Blacklane operates in major cities across Europe, the Middle East, Asia, South America, and North America.Topics blacklane, Europe, Germany, Mergers and Acquisitions, ride-sharing, Transportation, Uber April 30 San Francisco, CA StrictlyVC kicks off the year in SF. Get in the room for unfiltered fireside chats with industry leaders, insider VC insights, and high-value connections that actually move the needle. Tickets are limited.REGISTER NOW Newsletters See More Subscribe for the industry’s biggest tech news TechCrunch Daily News Every weekday and Sunday, you can get the best of TechCrunch’s coverage. TechCrunch Mobility TechCrunch Mobility is your destination for transportation news and insight. Startups Weekly Startups are the core of TechCrunch, so get our best coverage delivered weekly. StrictlyVC Provides movers and shakers with the info they need to start their day. No newsletters selected.Subscribe By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice. Related AI ScaleOps raises $130M to improve computing efficiency amid AI demand Kate Park 55 minutes ago AI AI chip startup Rebellions raises $400 million at $2.3B valuation in pre-IPO round Lucas Ropek 2 hours ago AI Qodo raises $70M for code verification as AI coding scales Kate Park 2 hours ago Latest in Transportation In Brief Uber is buying Berlin startup Blacklane to bolster its ‘Elite’ offering Sean O’Kane 21 seconds ago Transportation TechCrunch Mobility: When a robotaxi has to call 911 Kirsten Korosec 23 hours ago Transportation Waymo’s skyrocketing ridership in one chart Kirsten Korosec 3 days ago