French carpooling site BlaBlaCar adds Podorozhniki to tap into Russian and Ukrainian markets

By VCPOST Staff Reporter

Jan 28, 2014 11:06 AM EST

French carpooling site BlaBlaCar is entering Russia and Ukraine through an acquisition of local firm Podorozhniki. The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, according to TechCrunch.

This is the fourth time that BlaBlaCar has entered an acquisition deal for its expansion. However, this is the first time that the company ventured beyond the European Union, said the report.

Established in 2006, BlaBlaCar serves as a marketplace for carpooling or ridesharing service. The site links drivers with empty seats to passengers who will pay for the ride. This service actually helps offset the costs for long distance journeys. Passengers can be charged either directly or through BlaBlaCar, the report explained.

In January 2013, the Paris-based startup secured $10 million in funding from Accel Partners and its existing investors for its European expansion. BlaBlaCar currently operates country-specific websites in ten countries across Europe. Now, Russia and Ukraine has been added to its operations, TechCrunch reported.

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