This article was taken from the December 2012 issue of Wired magazine. Be the first to read Wired's articles in print before they're posted online, and get your hands on loads of additional content by <span class="s1">subscribing online.
BlaBlaCar is a carpool service with a smart addition. The Paris-based startup connects people who are driving long distances to those who need rides, helping both groups travel cheaply. "Over 80 per cent of Europeans travel by car," says COO Nicolas Brusson, 35. "The number of empty seats in cars is far greater than any transport network in any European country, whether it's trains, buses or trams." On the BlaBlaCar marketplace, drivers offer up spare seats and passengers propose a fair price to cover petrol -- a trip from London to Manchester would cost £15 to £22.
Transporting about 400,000 people per month, BlaBlaCar had a revenue of €1 million (£800,000) for 2011, operating in the UK (since June 2011), France, Italy and Spain. A rigorous sign-up system and ratings from passengers tell users whether a driver is reliable, punctual and safe. Brusson plans to expand into the Benelux region and Portugal, using the $10 million (£6m) he received from London investment firm Accel Partners.
This article was originally published by WIRED UK
