Image: Uber

Uber Technologies Inc. has acquired the chauffeur booking app Blacklane, the company’s latest move to court a high-end clientele.

The deal will expand Uber’s offerings targeting business executives and wealthy consumers, a fast-growing segment of the business, the company said in a statement on Monday. The transaction is expected to close by the end of 2026. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Competition is heating up at the luxury end of the ride-hailing market. Uber just a few weeks ago introduced a new chauffeur ride option called Uber Elite. Last week, London-based Wheely, which specializes in serving business elites and high net worth individuals, announced that it is expanding to New York City, its first US market. And in a move similar to the Blacklane acquisition, Lyft Inc. bought TBR Global Chaufferuing five months ago for $110 million.

Berlin-based Blacklane, whose backers include Mercedes-Benz Mobility AG, operates in more 500 cities across more than 60 countries through a mobile app and web booking platform. The purchase is set to bolster Uber Elite, which the rideshare giant is so far offering to frequent Uber Black riders and corporate account customers in Los Angeles and San Francisco. It is planning to expand the service soon to New York City.

Uber’s premium ride options, which include Uber Comfort, SUV and Black, already account for more than $10 billion in annualized gross bookings, the company said last year, representing a 35% increase from the prior year. 

Blacklane was founded in 2011 and was valued at more than €500 million ($574 million) after a 2024 funding round, Bloomberg reported at the time. Its investors 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.

Source: Bloomberg News

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Image: BBC

Growing pressure is being placed on policymakers to introduce a cap on private hire vehicle (PHV) numbers in London, as transport officials warn that continued expansion of the sector could become unsustainable without intervention.

At a recent session of the London Assembly Transport Committee, Andy Lord confirmed the scale of the issue, telling Assembly Members that over 100,000 PHVs are currently registered in London,” adding that the figure has “grown significantly over the last few years”.

The commissioner cautioned that if this upward trend continues, the consequences could be far-reaching. “If it carries on the rate it is going, I think it will be unsustainable,” Lord said, pointing to impacts on congestion, market balance and driver livelihoods.

Despite these concerns, Transport for London (TfL) does not have the authority to impose a cap on PHV numbers. Lord made clear that “we don’t have any powers to cap the number of private hire vehicles. It would require primary legislation change,” reinforcing that responsibility ultimately sits with central government.

This legislative gap has become a central frustration for both regulators and parts of the taxi trade, particularly as London’s PHV market has evolved rapidly with the rise of app-based operators and flexible working models. While this has expanded consumer choice, it has also increased competition among drivers and intensified pressure on earnings.

Lord acknowledged this imbalance, stating: “At the end of the day, there will only be so much demand available, and if you’ve got too much supply, that starts to have a direct impact on their earnings and their ability to get a sustainable living.”

The issue of oversupply was also raised by Assembly Members, who highlighted the growing number of licensed drivers alongside a backlog of new applicants seeking to enter the market. Concerns were expressed that continued expansion risks creating a cycle in which more drivers chase limited demand, further reducing income levels across the sector.

Source: TaxiPoint

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Transportation Committee Chair Sam Graves to Retire

Graves, a pilot with more than 3,000 flight hours, said the FAA reauthorization is among his greatest accomplishments while in office, calling it a revolutionary, far-reaching bill that made changes to the aviation industry. Graves has represented Missouri’s 6th Congressional District, which covers the rural northern part of the state, since 2001. He filed to run for a 13th term on Feb. 26, according to records from the Missouri secretary of state. The Wall Street Journal first reported Friday that Graves plans to withdraw his bid before the August primary.

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Why Is DHS Still Shut Down? When Will It End? What About TSA Workers?

On March 27, President Donald Trump on March 27 signed an order without the help of Congress to reroute money to compensate TSA workers amid the crisis. It's a move that may help soften the effect of the shutdown on airport lines even though Congress has still been unable to come to a deal to reopen the agency.

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Uber Expands Free-Ride Program to Seniors in Northeast Philly

Uber announced on Monday it will begin offering free rides to seniors in Northeast Philadelphia through its special program for older adults. The rideshare company said the expansion of the "Senior Ride Program" reflects its commitment to ensuring seniors can access transportation to medical appointments, pharmacies and grocery stores.

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City of Ottawa, Taxi Drivers Return to Court As Lawsuit Case Continues

Lawyers for the City of Ottawa and taxi drivers will be in court today, as the class action lawsuit over the city’s handling of Uber’s arrival continues. In May 2024, an Ontario Superior Court judge ruled the city was negligent in its enforcement of the Taxi Bylaw when Uber rolled into Ottawa in 2014. The judge recommended the two sides consider the judgement before determining the next course of action and finalizing the damages.

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City of Toronto Releases FIFA World Cup 2026 Mobility Plan

The City of Toronto, in co-ordination with transportation and public safety partners, has released its FIFA World Cup 2026™ Mobility Plan , outlining how residents, businesses and visitors will move throughout the city during the tournament, including measures to support accessible travel and minimize overall travel impacts.

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Air Canada CEO Resigns Due to Lack of French Language Skills

Air Canada CEO Michael Rousseau will step down at the end of September. The Board of Directors of the Canadian airline confirmed the decision on Monday, responding to ongoing criticism of Rousseau's poor French language skills. The CEO, who has been in office for five years, recently hit the headlines after he condoled almost exclusively in English following the deaths of two Air Canada pilots in a collision at La Guardia Airport in New York. Several Canadian politicians voiced harsh criticism, including Prime Minister Mark Carney, who was "very disappointed" and accused Rousseau of lacking judgment and compassion.

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London’s Taxi and Private Hire Drivers Face Price Increases

Transport for London (TfL) confirmed that taxi and private hire drivers will face significant price increases for licences and tests, marking a major change for those operating in the capital. This move comes after a long-standing freeze on licence fee adjustments since 2017, with drivers and passengers expected to feel the effects of the hike in the coming months. The price increases come at a time when there has been growing frustration within the private hire community over delays in the licensing process.

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Kazakhstan Prepares to Introduce Driverless Taxis

Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Digital Development believes that autonomous vehicles can significantly reduce the number of road accidents. According to Gizzat Baitursynov, сhairman of the Committee on Digital Assets and Breakthrough Technologies, safety is the main argument in favor of launching robotaxis in Almaty, Astana and Kosshy.

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Chester Hotel Boss: ‘International Guests Expect Uber — but I’m Not Sure It’s the Solution for Aberdeen’

Aberdeen’s taxi talks have been “bubbling away rightly or wrongly for a long time”, a city hotel boss tells me. And Stephen Gow, general manager of the Chester Hotel, hopes a recently launched consultation will bring much-needed clarity to the situation that has sparked debate for years.

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Western Cape Targets Rogue Taxi Drivers with New Registration Drive

Cape Town road users fed up with lawless taxi behaviour could soon see changes, as the Western Cape government rolls out a province-wide taxi driver registration drive aimed at accountability and safety. The Department of Mobility says more than 500 taxi drivers were registered within hours during a pilot in Mitchells Plain, signalling early uptake from the industry.

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South Korea: Nationwide Taxi Salary System Rollout Delayed Two More Years

A bill to delay the nationwide rollout of the "taxi salary system" by two years from its scheduled August 2025 implementation passed a subcommittee of the National Assembly's Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee on Wednesday.

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New ‘Taxicle’ Service to Improve Mobility in Ilocos Norte

The new JoyRide taxicle service in Ilocos Norte province is expected to improve commuter mobility in this northern gateway to Luzon, as it is set to operate next month, just after Holy Week. Ilocos Norte Governor Cecilia Araneta-Marcos confirmed this on Monday following the formal signing of a memorandum of agreement between the provincial government and JoyRide PH Corporation to offer taxicle service in the area.

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