Blablacar: The Uber of Hitch-Hiking is now worth $1 billion

French technology startup Blablacar is now worth in excess of $1 billion

FRENCH tech startup Blablacar – which connects people who want to share a car for long-distance trips – has now been valued at $1 billion.

 

The technology firm has raised more than $200 million in investment to help its ongoing global expansion.

Blablacar, which is already available in the UK, is planning to expand into Brazil, other Latin American countries and Asia with the help of its latest cash injection.

The $200 million investment values the Paris-based firm at $1 billion, co-founder Nicolas Brusson tweeted earlier today.

 

Blablacar works by matching people planning long car journeys. 

People looking for a ride can pick and choose their driver based on community feedback, vehicle type, whether or not they allow pets – or the petrol cost of hitching a ride.

And if you are planning a long drive, you can sell your spare seat to someone from the Blablacar community.

The app has had enormous success and is already active in more than 19 countries worldwide.

While car services such as Uber have often clashed with local authorities, Blablacar has so far been met with much less resistance. 

This is partly because its drivers don't make profits on the rides.