Blacklane, a global chauffeur service provider, has announced its latest financing round and a partnership with premium mobility services provider Sixt. The company’s CEO and co-founder, Jens Wohltorf, shared his insights on the company’s vision, challenges, and opportunities in an interview with Forbes.
Blacklane’s Mission: Peace of Mind for Travelers
Wohltorf said that Blacklane’s purpose is to create true peace of mind for travelers today for a better tomorrow. He explained that the company focuses on providing reliable, safe, and sustainable ground transportation for travelers around the world.
Blacklane connects travelers with thousands of professional drivers who operate licensed and insured vehicles. The company offers city-to-city rides, chauffeur hailing, airport transfers, and even limousine service. Blacklane also guarantees fixed and all-inclusive prices at the time of booking, regardless of traffic or demand.
Wohltorf said that he founded Blacklane in 2012 after experiencing the frustration of unreliable and expensive ground transportation while traveling for business. He saw a glaring gap in the market for a global and consistent service that could offer peace of mind to travelers.
Blacklane’s Challenges: Fragmentation and Innovation
Wohltorf said that one of the biggest challenges that Blacklane faces is the fragmentation of the ground transportation industry. He estimated that 70% of the market is made up of small suppliers with only a handful of cars in their fleet. These suppliers have no chance to innovate or scale their business, he said.
Blacklane aims to solve this problem by creating a global marketplace for these suppliers with online booking capabilities and connections to global distribution systems, travel management companies, and travel buyers. Wohltorf said that Blacklane does not force anything on its partners, but rather offers them a bucket of open offers where they can cherry-pick their preferred rides.
Another challenge that Wohltorf mentioned is the need to constantly innovate and adapt to changing customer needs and expectations. He said that Blacklane invests heavily in technology and data to improve its service quality, efficiency, and customer satisfaction. He also said that Blacklane listens to its customers and partners to understand their pain points and feedback.
Blacklane’s Opportunities: Growth and Partnership
Wohltorf said that Blacklane sees a lot of opportunities for growth and expansion in the post-pandemic world. He said that the company has seen a strong recovery in demand for its services, especially in the U.S., which is its biggest market. He also said that the company is planning to launch 50 to 70 new markets in the Asia-Pacific region in the summer.
Wohltorf also announced that Blacklane has completed its Series F funding round and entered into a partnership with Sixt, a leading car rental company. He said that the partnership will allow Blacklane to offer its customers more choices and flexibility in terms of vehicle types, prices, and booking channels. He also said that the partnership will help both companies to leverage their strengths and synergies in the mobility sector.
Wohltorf said that he is confident that Blacklane will continue to grow and succeed in its mission to create peace of mind for travelers. He said that he believes that Blacklane has a unique value proposition that sets it apart from other competitors in the market. He also said that he is proud of his team and partners who share his vision and passion for excellence.
