Close Menu
  • English
  • Featured
    • AI & Robotics
    • Energy
    • Finance
    • Leisure
    • Science
    • Security
    • Sustainable Development
    • Tech
    • Transport
  • About Us
  • Advertising
  • Contact Us

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

News, investigations, and analysis — our top stories every morning to start your day right.

Trending
Illustration of the potential impact of quantum computing on Bitcoin's security. Image generated by AI.
“Bitcoin’s Countdown Has Begun”: Experts Reveal When Quantum Computers Will Finally Shatter Its Legendary Encryption
Illustration of generating light from the vacuum using ultra-powerful lasers. Image generated by AI.
“They Created Light From Nothing”: Scientists Achieve the Impossible by Generating Photons Directly From Quantum Vacuum
Illustration of the rollout of Android 16 and its features. Image generated by AI.
“Android 16 Is Finally Here”: Check If Your Smartphone Is Compatible and Follow These Steps to Install It Instantly
Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn RSS
Rude Baguette
Facebook X (Twitter) RSS
Newsletter
  • Featured
  • AI
    Illustration of the Figure 02 robot demonstrating advanced package sorting skills. Image generated by AI.

    “Robots Are Taking Over”: This Groundbreaking Video Shows Figure 02 Robot Mastering Human-Like Package Sorting Skills with Precision and Speed

    June 19, 2025 at 11:49 AM
    Illustration of the dual-mode robot ATOM showcasing its ability to both fly and roll. Image generated by AI.

    “Flies and Rolls on Two Actuators”: Scientists Build Shape-Shifting Robot That Defies Mobility Engineering Norms

    June 19, 2025 at 10:10 AM
    Illustration of 1X Technologies' humanoid robot NEO performing household tasks autonomously. Image generated by AI.

    This Sweater-Clad Robot Just Got a Brain Boost and Can Now Cook and Clean Solo Like a Real Domestic Assistant

    June 19, 2025 at 8:14 AM
    Illustration of artificial intelligence organizing information like human cognition. Image generated by AI.

    “AI Thinks Like Us Now”: Chinese Study Unveils Stunning Evidence of AI Mimicking Human Brain’s Sorting Abilities

    June 19, 2025 at 7:06 AM
    Illustration of the EngineAI RL Workspace platform for humanoid and legged robot development. Image generated by AI.

    “China’s Humanoids Are Coming In Your Home”: This Robotic Breakthrough From Beijing Just Changed the Future of American Tech Forever

    June 18, 2025 at 3:54 PM
  • Energy
    Illustration of fiber-based cooling technology managing heat in data centers. Image generated by AI.

    “Coldest AI Centers Ever”: This Passive Cooling Tech Just Smashed Temperature Records and Could Save Billions in Data Power Costs

    June 18, 2025 at 5:11 PM
    Illustration of the transformative potential of Ruddlesden-Popper perovskites in renewable energy and optoelectronics. Image generated by AI.

    Shapeshifting Perovskites Unleashed as Researchers Reveal Game-Changing Material That Supercharges Solar Devices and LED Efficiency

    June 18, 2025 at 8:54 AM
    Illustration of the innovative process by MIT researchers to produce hydrogen using recycled soda cans and seawater. Image generated by AI.

    From Soda to Superfuel: Researchers Use Coca-Cola and Ocean Water to Produce Clean Hydrogen for the Future of Mobility

    June 13, 2025 at 8:11 AM
    Illustration of China's Hualong-1 nuclear reactor and its impact on global energy dynamics. Image generated by AI.

    “France on the Brink”: China’s Nuclear Reactor Threatens to Wipe Out the Last Stronghold of French Economic Power

    June 12, 2025 at 4:05 PM
    Illustration of a groundbreaking electrochemical reactor for lithium extraction and its impact on sustainable technology. Image generated by AI.

    “U.S. Uncovers Rare Earth Bombshell”: This Shocking Discovery Could Flip the Global Tech Supply Chain on Its Head

    June 12, 2025 at 8:04 AM
  • Finance
    Illustration of James Howells searching for his lost Bitcoin hard drive in a landfill. Image generated by AI.

    “He’s Still Digging”: Man Who Lost $700 Million in Bitcoin 12 Years Ago in a Dump Faces Stunning New Twist in His Hunt

    June 13, 2025 at 9:05 AM
    Illustration of a lost hard drive containing 8,000 Bitcoins buried in a landfill. Image generated by AI.

    He Just Gave Up €200 Million in Bitcoin: After 12 Years of Digging Through Trash, the Lost Hard Drive Is Gone for Good

    May 30, 2025 at 7:14 AM
    Illustration of a man sleeping with black tape over his lips. Image generated by AI.

    “Doctors Sound the Alarm”: Viral Mouth Taping Trend Called Dangerous and Completely Unproven by Leading Medical Experts

    May 25, 2025 at 8:02 AM
    Illustration of Visa's integration of AI systems into digital payments (AI-generated, non-realistic illustration). Credit: Ideogram.

    Visa’s AI Is Now Shopping for You: This Robot May Soon Swipe Your Card Automatically—and Mess With Your Mind

    May 4, 2025 at 8:07 AM
    Microsoft Strikes Unprecedented Deal: World's Largest CO2 Removal at 7.44 Million Tons, Setting New Environmental Milestone

    “Microsoft Strikes Historic Climate Deal”: World’s Largest CO2 Removal Pact Targets 6.75 Million Tons in Unmatched Green Push

    April 19, 2025 at 9:55 AM
  • Leisure
    Illustration of Quentin Tarantino endorsing the Netflix film Havoc. Image generated by AI.

    “It’s Really Badass”: Tarantino Raves About This Explosive Tom Hardy Action Film That Just Dropped as a Netflix Exclusive

    June 23, 2025 at 5:50 AM
    Illustration of a Nintendo Direct event focused on Donkey Kong Bananza for the Nintendo Switch 2. Image generated by AI.

    “This Hero Smashes Everything”: Nintendo Switch 2’s Most Explosive Star Will Dominate the Nintendo Direct in 48 Hours

    June 22, 2025 at 4:53 PM
    Illustration of Sony's vision for the future of gaming with the anticipated PS6. Image generated by AI.

    “Next-Gen Is Coming”: Sony President Drops First Official PS6 Statement That Sets the Tone for the Future of Gaming

    June 22, 2025 at 4:11 PM
    Illustration of a reimagined Vice City landscape for GTA 6, featuring diverse geographical elements. Image generated by AI.

    “Map Is Way Bigger Than Expected”: GTA 6 Leak Reveals Massive World That Dwarfs Every Previous Rockstar Game

    June 22, 2025 at 11:53 AM
    Illustration of Superman in an action-packed scene from the upcoming film directed by James Gunn. Image generated by AI.

    This New Superman Movie by James Gunn Arrives in 2025 and It’s Set to Redefine the Superhero Genre With Unmatched Force

    June 22, 2025 at 10:03 AM
  • Science
    Illustration of generating light from the vacuum using ultra-powerful lasers. Image generated by AI.

    “They Created Light From Nothing”: Scientists Achieve the Impossible by Generating Photons Directly From Quantum Vacuum

    June 23, 2025 at 4:14 PM
    Illustration of the teleportation of a beam of light using quantum mechanics. Image generated by AI.

    “Light Has Been Teleported”: Historic Breakthrough Achieved as Scientists Make a Beam Jump Across Space Instantly

    June 22, 2025 at 7:59 AM
    Illustration of the International Space Station in orbit with Earth in the background. Image generated by AI.

    “Elon Musk Plans Space Station’s Fall”: Shocking Timeline Revealed for ISS Deorbit as SpaceX Pushes Urgency to the Limit

    June 21, 2025 at 9:08 AM
    Illustration of India's groundbreaking advancement in quantum secure communication using quantum entanglement. Image generated by AI.

    “India Enters the Quantum Age”: Historic Breakthrough in Free-Space Secure Communication Signals Tech Superpower Rise

    June 20, 2025 at 9:51 AM
    Illustration of space-time as a memory system storing information from cosmic interactions. Image generated by AI.

    “Space-Time Has Memory”: Radical New Theory Suggests the Universe Remembers, Shaking the Foundations of Cosmology

    June 20, 2025 at 7:10 AM
  • Security
    Illustration of a Chinese satellite capable of identifying human faces from over 62 miles away. Image generated by AI.

    “China Can See Your Face From Space”: New Spy Satellite Sparks Global Alarm With Its Unprecedented Orbital Surveillance Power

    June 10, 2025 at 3:53 PM
    Illustration of the F-15E Strike Eagle equipped with APKWS II rockets targeting drones. Image generated by AI.

    “We’ll Swat Them Out of the Sky”: U.S. Air Force Upgrades F-15E With 42 Drone-Killing Rockets in Explosive Power Boost

    May 28, 2025 at 10:00 AM
    Illustration of using Starlink satellites to detect stealth aircraft. Image generated by AI.

    “Elon Musk Cornered by Invisible Threat”: China’s New Tech Can Hijack Starlink Satellites and Unmask Stealth Aircraft

    May 27, 2025 at 12:02 PM
    Illustration of Homeland Security revoking Harvard's foreign student program due to alleged China ties. Image generated by AI.

    U.S. Government Revokes Harvard’s Foreign Student Access After Explosive Findings of Deep Connections to China

    May 26, 2025 at 11:56 AM
    Illustration of a damaged North Korean naval destroyer at launch. Image generated by AI.

    “North Korea’s Warship Launch Fails”: Second Naval Destroyer Suffers Major Damage in Stunning Blow to Kim’s Military Ambitions

    May 25, 2025 at 11:48 AM
  • Impact
    Illustration of Ethiopia's ambitious 62-story skyscraper project in Addis Ababa. Image generated by AI.

    “Tallest Tower Dream Revived”: Ethiopia Relaunches Bold Project to Build Sub-Saharan Africa’s Most Ambitious Skyscraper Yet

    June 23, 2025 at 8:51 AM
    Illustration of planned urban developments across Greater Manchester. Image generated by AI.

    “Most Objectionable Plan Ever Seen”: Controversial Town Proposal Sparks Uproar Across Greater Manchester Development Agenda

    June 22, 2025 at 9:14 AM
    Illustration of the European Union's new mandatory Energy Label for smartphones. Image generated by AI.

    This New Mandatory Smartphone Score in France Starts Now and Could Change How Millions Choose Their Next Device

    June 22, 2025 at 6:53 AM
    Illustration of Tor Alva, the tallest 3D-printed building in the world. Image generated by AI.

    This 3D-Printed Tower Just Broke a World Record as Tor Alva Rises Higher Than Any Structure Ever Made by a Machine

    June 17, 2025 at 9:49 AM
    Illustration of the Jeddah Economic Company Tower rising as the world's tallest skyscraper. Image generated by AI.

    “Unlimited Saudi Ambition”: World’s Tallest Tower Now Rising at Lightning Speed, Smashing Every Construction Record in Sight

    June 17, 2025 at 8:02 AM
  • Tech
    Illustration of the potential impact of quantum computing on Bitcoin's security. Image generated by AI.

    “Bitcoin’s Countdown Has Begun”: Experts Reveal When Quantum Computers Will Finally Shatter Its Legendary Encryption

    June 23, 2025 at 5:02 PM
    Illustration of the rollout of Android 16 and its features. Image generated by AI.

    “Android 16 Is Finally Here”: Check If Your Smartphone Is Compatible and Follow These Steps to Install It Instantly

    June 23, 2025 at 11:57 AM
    Illustration of the Nintendo Switch 2 with a microSD Express card. Image generated by AI.

    “Don’t Buy These MicroSD Cards”: Nintendo Switch 2 Users Warned as Incompatible Models Cause Crashes and Data Loss

    June 23, 2025 at 7:57 AM
    Illustration of the Nintendo Switch 2 hybrid console launch with strong sales and divided opinions. Image generated by AI.

    Nintendo Switch 2 Divides the Community as Doubts Rise Over Whether the New Console Truly Delivers on Expectations

    June 23, 2025 at 6:59 AM
    Illustration of the Nintendo Switch 2 heating issue in sleep mode. Image generated by AI.

    “Don’t Leave It in Sleep Mode”: This Hidden Nintendo Switch 2 Setting Could Drain Power or Worse if Left Enabled

    June 22, 2025 at 5:50 AM
  • Transport
    Illustration of an American Airlines Boeing 787-9 diverted to Rome due to length restrictions at Naples Airport. Image generated by AI.

    “Too Long by Two Meters”: Naples Airport Shocks 200 Passengers by Refusing Landing of a Boeing 787 Over Runway Limits

    June 23, 2025 at 10:14 AM
    Illustration of Renault's strategic shift towards military drone production and electric vehicle innovation. Image generated by AI.

    “Electric Cars Aren’t Selling Anymore”: Renault’s Bold Move Shakes the Market with a Game-Changing Strategy Worth Millions

    June 20, 2025 at 5:55 AM
    Illustration of the Govy AirCab, a revolutionary flying car by GAC Group, designed for urban travel. Image generated by AI.

    “World’s First Flying Car Revolution”: Chinese Firm Launches Stunning 18-Mile Range Vehicle That Defies Gravity and Rewrites Transportation History

    June 19, 2025 at 6:04 AM
    Illustration of a Tesla Model 3 veering off the road and crashing. Image generated by AI.

    “It Just Drove Itself Into the Ditch”: Shocking Tesla Autopilot Crash Caught on Video Sparks Global Safety Alarm

    June 17, 2025 at 4:09 PM
    Illustration of a Cybertruck on autopilot with its driver playing Grand Theft Auto V on a highway. Image generated by AI.

    Shocking Highway Scene as Man Lets His Cybertruck Drive Autonomously While He Plays Grand Theft Auto Behind the Wheel

    June 17, 2025 at 6:00 AM
  • English
Rude Baguette

Why Lyft & Blablacar would make the perfect merger

Eirwen WilliamsEirwen WilliamsNovember 30, 2015 at 3:31 AM0
Share Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Telegram WhatsApp Email Copy Link
Follow Us
Google News
Share
Twitter Facebook LinkedIn WhatsApp Email Copy Link

_MG_1301ret
It started as far back as last year, when Blablacar raised $100 Million to ‘go global’ – everyone had always known that Mazzella’s ambitions were big, but $100 Million was a whole new ball game. One year later, the company raised $200 Million more and it’s safe to say that there’s no stopping the BlaBlaCar. Today, they are present in most of Europe, India & Mexico, and they’ve got plans to open a handful of new markets in the beginning of 2016.
It’s not something I throw out lightly, to say that I think that two Unicorns should merge together. It’s not a fantasy celebrity couple, or an attempt to pack as many buzz words into a single title (otherwise I would’ve crammed Unicorn, Rudeicorn, Decacorn, and a couple other terms in there), but the result of:

  1. Living in the heart of the Sharing Economy (Paris).
  2. Following Blablacar for more than 4 years as they evolved from covoiturage.fr into the giant that they are today.

Lyft + Blablacar = Perfect Combo

There are a few initial observations that make merging the two companies together optimal. That is, if they both decided it was good to consider, it’s obvious that some of the most important variables would line up perfectly.
First, from a brand perspective, while they both have very strong brands, their relationship with their users (drivers & passengers) is very much the same. Lyft combats the impersonal feel of Uber by creating a sense of community, while Blablacar has done wonders to remove all aspects of anonymity & distrust from what is essentially hitchhiking online (I say that as a known “rude hitchhiker” – my handle on this blog and the source of the “rude” in Rude Baguette).
In addition, because Lyft shuttered its long-distance ridesharing business early on (Side Car, anyone?), and because Blablacar has always avoided intra-city travel, it is as if Greyhound was merging with your local bus line. Blablacar has already considered getting into short-distance travel in the past – through a failed acquisition of Djump that never got completed – and Lyft dropped its long-distance ridesharing service when Uber stepped up the short-distance pressure.
Blablacar needs users to turn the Blablacar app on more often if they want to be able to provide real-time ride offers, and Lyft needs drivers to make longer trips if they want to diversify their competition with Uber.
Not that it needs to be said, but Uber & Blablacar would obviously be a terrible fit – the relationship with users (drivers & passengers) just doesn’t line up, and I couldn’t see Travis Kalanick & Fred Mazzella being on the same page, despite the fact that Uber has enough money to buy Blablacar 10 times over.
Lyft desperately needs growth abroad – the company already called off plans for European expansion this year after Uber stepped up competition in NYC, and, as I’ve said before, you can’t be a global leader in the Sharing Economy if you’re not a leader in Paris (Airbnb’s #2 city for revenue, Uber’s #2 city for revenue, Blablacar’s #1 country for revenue).

Why this might not work, but really should.

Now, the biggest factor that’s going to play here – or maybe it already has – is going to be a question of control. I tend to see Blablacar as the more dominant of the two, to which you may respond that Lyft has a higher valuation and more money raised. Well, given the sentiment in the valley of predicting dying Unicorns, I think it’s enough to say that sometimes a valuation isn’t a valuation, whereas Blablacar (valued at $1.6 Billion) has arguably raised the minimum required fundraising, despite planning to grow from 400+ at the end of 2015 to 700+ this time next year: in fact, in the past year, Blablacar has recruited one new employee per day. In France.
There are certainly financial details that I won’t even begin to scratch the surface. Blablacar has virtually no competitors, whereas Lyft is on the receiving end of most of Uber’s aggression. Blablacar is valued at about $1.6 Billion from its last fundraising round, where as Lyft is valued at $2.5 Billion, but Blablacar’s growth trajectory is virtually unlimited – China, Canada, all of South America (where they are rumored to be launching soon).
Does Lyft need Blablacar to survive? Maybe, depending on what your definition of surviving is. Lyft isn’t going anywhere anytime soon, but they also aren’t really going anywhere on their own, if you see what I mean. Blablacar will continue to roll out, and its next fundraising will likely be 1) at a higher valuation than Lyft, and 2) enough money for them to enter the US market, which makes the deal with Lyft ephemeral, at least in terms of minimizing user overlap.

Did you like it? 4.3/5 (25)

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

News, investigations, and analysis — our top stories every morning to start your day right.

Follow on Google News Follow on X (Twitter)
Share. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Telegram WhatsApp Email Copy Link
Previous ArticleDeezer co-founder Daniel Marhely launches GET
Next Article The City of Paris turns to hackers to help prevent future terrorist attacks
Add A Comment
Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

News, investigations, and analysis — our top stories every morning to start your day right.

Trending
Illustration of the potential impact of quantum computing on Bitcoin's security. Image generated by AI.
“Bitcoin’s Countdown Has Begun”: Experts Reveal When Quantum Computers Will Finally Shatter Its Legendary Encryption
Illustration of generating light from the vacuum using ultra-powerful lasers. Image generated by AI.
“They Created Light From Nothing”: Scientists Achieve the Impossible by Generating Photons Directly From Quantum Vacuum
Illustration of the rollout of Android 16 and its features. Image generated by AI.
“Android 16 Is Finally Here”: Check If Your Smartphone Is Compatible and Follow These Steps to Install It Instantly
News by category
  • English
  • Tech
  • Finance
  • Leisure
  • Transport
  • Science
  • Security
  • AI & Robotics
  • Energy
  • Sustainable Development
Information
  • Meet the Team
  • Legal notice
  • Privacy policy
  • About Us
  • Advertising
  • Contact Us
  • About Us
  • Advertising
  • Contact Us

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

News, investigations, and analysis — our top stories every morning to start your day right.

Facebook X (Twitter) RSS
© RudeBaguette.com. All rights reserved.

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.