BlaBlaCar's turnover increased by 50% in 2022 compared to 2019
For the first time, French carpooling giant BlaBlaCar has revealed its revenue, which doubled in 2022. The startup continues to invest in France and internationally.
For the first time, BlaBlaCar disclosed its revenue. The French unicorn nearly doubled its income, reaching €197 million in 2022, compared to €100 million the previous year. This demonstrates a return to growth, as the carpooling giant had suffered from travel restrictions due to the pandemic, which had halted its operations.
BlaBlaCar's revenue increased by 50% in 2022 compared to 2019, the benchmark year pre-Covid. The company's growth is driven by its international operations, now in 21 countries. Brazil is the leading country in long-distance carpooling for the startup, and it has no plans to stop there.
Strong International Growth
"Apart from Western Europe, there are large markets, still nascent, but growing fast, where we invest little, like in India," a BlaBlaCar spokesperson told Ouest-France. That explains why the company was not profitable in 2022. "In the future, we aim to balance profitability and strong growth," he added.
He attributes this growth to a strategic shift in 2019 "from a purely carpooling model to a multimodal offering (with the integration of a bus trip proposition)."
And in France? It's the only country where BlaBlaCar operates its buses. The French market is dominated by two major players (Flixbus and Ouibus, acquired by BlaBlaCar in 2019), while abroad, there are numerous smaller actors whose services the French company aggregates on its app.
In France, the platform's summer projections are more than promising. Three million carpoolers (passengers and drivers), a 15 to 20% rise compared to 2022, and 1 million bus trips. According to a company spokesperson, this is due to rising gasoline prices and a need for underserved public transportation routes.
Regularly Adjusted Prices
But will trip prices skyrocket during holiday departure weekends? When a driver adds a trip to their app, BlaBlaCar suggests a price, which the driver can adjust within certain limits, either up or down. "We revise our recommendations several times a year to take inflation into account," explains the company spokesperson, who assures that the company does not change its pricing in real-time. The suggested prices also increase to incentivize routes where there is a lack of driver offers.
Regarding buses, ticket prices follow the same logic as other companies: seat prices vary depending on bus occupancy.
In the future, BlaBlaCar also aims to enter the train travel market, following Trainline's model. "The objective will then be to develop this strategy in all 21 markets where we are present," adds the spokesperson.
What is BlaBlaCar?
BlaBlaCar is a French online marketplace for carpooling services. It connects drivers traveling from one city to another with travelers heading the same way so that they can share the journey and split the cost. The name "BlaBlaCar" refers to the amount of conversation drivers and passengers prefer during a trip, with options ranging from "Bla" (not talkative) to "BlaBlaBla" (very talkative).
Founded in 2006, BlaBlaCar allows individuals to save on travel costs while reducing carbon emissions through shared rides. As of my knowledge, cutoff in September 2021, BlaBlaCar operates in numerous countries across Europe, Asia, and the Americas. The platform has expanded its services, integrating bus travel and even exploring options for shorter commutes within cities.
BlaBlaCar bus
BlaBlaCar Bus is an expansion of the original BlaBlaCar carpooling service. It's essentially a long-distance, inter-city bus service integrated into BlaBlaCar's offerings after the company acquired Ouibus, a bus service operator, from the French national railway company SNCF in 2019.
BlaBlaCar Bus aims to provide an affordable, convenient alternative to carpooling for longer journeys and routes that might not be as frequently covered by carpooling. This service allows passengers to book bus seats between cities using the BlaBlaCar platform. It complements the peer-to-peer carpooling service by offering a more traditional, organized form of transport while retaining BlaBlaCar's commitment to sustainable, shared travel. As of my knowledge cutoff in September 2021, the bus service is available in select European countries.
BlaBlaCar
BlaBlaCar is a leading carpooling platform founded in 2006. It connects drivers and passengers for long-distance travel. Facilitating shared rides offers an economical and environmentally friendly alternative to traditional transportation. With a user-friendly app and a focus on community, BlaBlaCar has become a popular choice for sustainable travel across various regions.
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