RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s TASARU is facilitating the entry of German-based premium chauffeur services company Blacklane into the Kingdom through a strategic investment, according to the CEO.

In an interview with Arab News during the Future Investment Initiative in Riyadh, Michael Mueller – head of the Public Investment Fund subsidiary – emphasized the synergy between Blacklane’s mission and Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, which includes goals for a sustainable and localized premium transportation sector.

“Blacklane is a ride-hailing company that focuses exclusively on premium chauffeur services and aims to establish a business here in Saudi Arabia. This aligns perfectly with the Kingdom’s strategy 2030 to develop a sustainable, premium chauffeur service that will be localized and established here,” he said.

In addition to offering chauffeur services, Blacklane plans to set up a training academy in the Kingdom, which Mueller highlighted as a distinctive feature in the market.

“What sets them apart is their existing and established chauffeur service in Saudi Arabia. However, what they plan to build, such as a training academy, will also enhance safety standards,” he said.

According to Mueller, the investment in Blacklane brings an experienced international partner to the Kingdom, advancing sustainable mobility in the region.

“We have an international company with extensive experience in this business, and we aim to introduce this expertise to the Kingdom through our investment. We are pleased that they will begin establishing their business here following the signing of the agreement at FII8,” he added.

TASARU’s investment in Blacklane is part of a broader strategy to create an ecosystem that supports the growth of key automotive players in the Kingdom, including Ceer, Lucid, and Hyundai.

“Our current focus is on supporting Ceer, Lucid, Hyundai, and exploring the supplier business, as these companies are set to launch within the next two to three years,” Mueller explained.

“We are carefully assessing which suppliers are essential to build this ecosystem around the OEMs themselves,” he added.

In the long term, TASARU is looking into opportunities to enhance Saudi Arabia’s automotive logistics infrastructure, which could further support the sector’s growth.

“We are exploring every opportunity. There might be potential in the logistics sector that could support the uplift of automotive logistics services, which could come later,” Mueller said.

Reflecting on TASARU’s achievements in its first year, Mueller noted investments in autonomous technology and ride-hailing services as indicators of the company’s commitment to building a sustainable mobility ecosystem in Saudi Arabia.

“In just one year of operations, we have established a presence in King Abdullah Economic City and invested in autonomous technology and ride-hailing services with Blacklane,” he said.

Mueller added that the company is heavily investing in technologies that support the broader vision of boosting the automotive and mobility industry in the Kingdom.

“Ride-hailing is one aspect, but we are also bringing new technologies to Saudi Arabia that support the overall goal of establishing automotive and mobility services here,” he said.

Blacklane is currently in its initial phase in the Kingdom, with its main hub in Riyadh. The next step will involve setting up their training facilities and academy.

“After Riyadh, they will focus on Jeddah, and then expand to three or four more cities in the Kingdom,” he added.

Mueller explained that the development of the mobility ecosystem follows a step-by-step approach.

He noted that Saudi Arabia has already begun establishing facilities like Lucid and Ceer, but the next step involves identifying the right suppliers to build the foundation.

He added that exploring next-generation vehicles and technologies, along with strengthening regulations for these innovations, will be crucial for the future.

Mueller also hinted that TASARU is in the early stages of several significant announcements that have yet to be revealed.

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