After a year in Japan, Blacklane chauffeur service picks up ‘millions’ from Recruit

Blacklane, the online chauffeur-booking service from Germany, announced yesterday that it received a “mid-seven-digit” investment from Japan’s Recruit Holdings to further its expansion in Tokyo and around the globe. The latest funding values Blacklane at nine figures.

In December last year, Blacklane entered Japan, where it faces competition from local taxi and chauffeur services in addition to popular online services already established in the domestic market – such as Uber, Hailo, and the upcoming Line Taxi.

CEO and co-founder Dr. Jens Wohltorf explains to Tech in Asia how Blacklane differentiates itself in a crowded space:

First, customers pre-book our professional cars. This is ideal for airport or hotel transfers, or specific times of the day customers need a driver. Also, we provide transparent and fixed pricing at the time of booking. Moreover, our fully-licensed drivers are trained on a regular basis and provide the passenger with the highest service quality possible around the world. A 24/7 customer service team makes sure that flights are monitored and drivers are on time. Blacklane combines German precision with the highest global quality standards.

Founded in 2011, Blacklane provides professional drivers in 150 international cities and employs more than 120 staff. The service raised US$14 million last year – the same month that it entered Japan – from German automaker Daimler AG.

As for traction in Japan, specifically, Wohltorf says:

[We] see tremendous opportunities to grow our business both for international travelers in Japan and Japanese travelers in-country and overseas. Blacklane’s service is available in Tokyo and throughout most Asia-Pacific and US cities where Japanese tourists most frequently visit. The Japanese travel market has been growing enormously in the past couple of years, and 2014 is on pace to be a record year for inbound tourists to Japan. Blacklane aims to be the go-to global provider of professional car services when it comes to ground transportation in the country. We also want Japanese tourists and business travelers to think of Blacklane as their reliable travel partner when traveling overseas.

In addition to Tokyo, Blacklane’s service in Asia extends to Bangkok, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Macau, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Singapore, and Taipei.

See: Uber unveils world’s first UberTaxiLux in Tokyo

This post After a year in Japan, Blacklane chauffeur service picks up ‘millions’ from Recruit appeared first on Tech in Asia.

After a year in Japan, Blacklane chauffeur service picks up ‘millions’ from Recruit