{"id":696748,"date":"2025-10-26T09:40:36","date_gmt":"2025-10-26T06:40:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/india-the-market-blablacar-once-walked-away-from-is-now-its-biggest\/"},"modified":"2025-10-26T09:40:36","modified_gmt":"2025-10-26T06:40:36","slug":"india-the-market-blablacar-once-walked-away-from-is-now-its-biggest","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/india-the-market-blablacar-once-walked-away-from-is-now-its-biggest\/","title":{"rendered":"India, the market BlaBlaCar once walked away from, is now its biggest"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_85 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a41289280b36\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a41289280b36\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/india-the-market-blablacar-once-walked-away-from-is-now-its-biggest\/#%E2%80%9CNo_hurry%E2%80%9D_to_start_monetization\" >\u201cNo hurry\u201d to start monetization<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/india-the-market-blablacar-once-walked-away-from-is-now-its-biggest\/#Challenges_on_its_way_to_success\" >Challenges on its way to success<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<div>\n<p id=\"speakable-summary\" class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Every few weekends, 21-year-old student Lavanya Jain opens the <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.blablacar.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">BlaBlaCar<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/download-scripts-themes-apps\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"9\" title=\"Download Scripts &amp; Themes &amp; Apps\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">app<\/a> to find a lift from Noida on the outskirts of New Delhi to his home in Kandhla, a small town in northern India\u2019s Uttar Pradesh state. The 120-kilometer journey costs him about \u20b9500, the equivalent of about $6. That\u2019s a fraction of the \u20b91,500\u2013\u20b92,000, or $17\u2013$23, he would pay for a private cab. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIf you\u2019re looking for a fast, efficient, affordable, and comfortable way to <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/trip-and-travel\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"10\" title=\"Trip &amp; Travel\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">travel<\/a> \u2014 and you like to chat \u2014 you should basically check out BlaBlaCar,\u201d Jain told TechCrunch, adding that he has used the app some 40 to 50 times over the past two years.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Jain is one of millions of Indians turning to long-distance carpooling as a cheaper, more <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/social-mediaa\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"1\" title=\"Social Media\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">social<\/a> way to travel between cities. That surge has made India the company\u2019s largest market worldwide, with an estimated 20 million passengers this year \u2014 up almost 50% from a year earlier. Based on that forecast, BlaBlaCar\u2019s India market would surpass the 18 million passengers projected in Brazil and its home market of France.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For a company that shut its India office in 2017 after poor traction, the turnaround is striking. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Growth has come largely without marketing or a local team, driven instead by word of mouth, expanding mobile internet access, and the rise of digital payments and car ownership among India\u2019s middle class.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1453\" src=\"https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/blablacar-passengers-trips-india-2025-forecast.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3062349\" srcset=\"https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/blablacar-passengers-trips-india-2025-forecast.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/blablacar-passengers-trips-india-2025-forecast.jpg?resize=150,114 150w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/blablacar-passengers-trips-india-2025-forecast.jpg?resize=300,227 300w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/blablacar-passengers-trips-india-2025-forecast.jpg?resize=768,581 768w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/blablacar-passengers-trips-india-2025-forecast.jpg?resize=680,515 680w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/blablacar-passengers-trips-india-2025-forecast.jpg?resize=1200,908 1200w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/blablacar-passengers-trips-india-2025-forecast.jpg?resize=1280,969 1280w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/blablacar-passengers-trips-india-2025-forecast.jpg?resize=430,325 430w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/blablacar-passengers-trips-india-2025-forecast.jpg?resize=720,545 720w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/blablacar-passengers-trips-india-2025-forecast.jpg?resize=900,681 900w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/blablacar-passengers-trips-india-2025-forecast.jpg?resize=800,605 800w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/blablacar-passengers-trips-india-2025-forecast.jpg?resize=1536,1162 1536w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/blablacar-passengers-trips-india-2025-forecast.jpg?resize=668,506 668w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/blablacar-passengers-trips-india-2025-forecast.jpg?resize=496,375 496w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/blablacar-passengers-trips-india-2025-forecast.jpg?resize=815,617 815w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/blablacar-passengers-trips-india-2025-forecast.jpg?resize=702,531 702w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/blablacar-passengers-trips-india-2025-forecast.jpg?resize=50,38 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><span class=\"wp-block-image__credits\"><strong>Image Credits:<\/strong>Jagmeet Singh \/ TechCrunch<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">India is home to <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.weforum.org\/stories\/2023\/12\/how-smartphones-can-boost-digital-literacy-among-indias-rural-communities\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">more than 700 million smartphone users<\/a> and has seen a sharp rise in digital payments, which <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ndtv.com\/india-news\/digital-payments-account-for-99-8-of-transactions-upi-leads-with-85-rbi-report-9504845\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">now account for over 99% of all transactions<\/a> in the country. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At the center of that shift is the Indian government-backed Unified Payments Interface (UPI) system, which <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.npci.org.in\/product\/upi\/product-statistics\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">processed about 19.6 billion transfers<\/a> worth around \u20b924.9 trillion (roughly $284 billion) in September alone. Car sales have climbed in tandem, <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rushlane.com\/car-sales-cy-2024-retail-maruti-hyundai-tata-mahindra-12515302.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">reaching 4.73 million vehicles<\/a> in 2024, up from 3.87 million a year earlier \u2014 a 5.2% year-on-year increase and an all-time high.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-techcrunch-inline-cta\">\n<div class=\"inline-cta__wrapper\">\n<p>Techcrunch event<\/p>\n<div class=\"inline-cta__content\">\n<p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"inline-cta__location\">San Francisco<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"inline-cta__separator\">|<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"inline-cta__date\">October 27-29, 2025<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Other factors behind BlaBlaCar\u2019s rapid growth in India include the country\u2019s limited public transport capacity relative to its over 1.4 billion population, and the steady expansion of road infrastructure that is improving connectivity between smaller towns, rural areas, and major cities.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe have lots of examples from users who say, \u2018Before, I was flying to a destination or taking the train or not going at all \u2014 and now I can actually drive. It takes three hours, and it\u2019s a pleasant ride,\u2019\u201d said Nicolas Brusson, co-founder and chief executive of BlaBlaCar, in an interview.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">BlaBlaCar <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.business-standard.com\/article\/companies\/intercity-carpooling-firm-blablacar-enters-india-defying-security-risks-115011401279_1.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">first entered<\/a> India in early 2015, setting up a local office in New Delhi. The company soon faced stiff competition from Uber and local rival Ola, both of which were <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/yourstory.com\/2015\/10\/ola-share-and-uberpool\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">experimenting with carpooling services<\/a> and marketing them heavily. (The companies would ended up suspending those carpooling services during the COVID-19 lockdowns.) <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Struggling to gain traction, BlaBlaCar withdrew its local team in 2017. Still, the app remained live \u2014 and in 2022, usage began to surge again. Since then, it has skyrocketed from 4.3 million users in 2022 to a projected 20 million this year.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">BlaBlaCar has averaged about 1.1 million monthly active users in India this year, peaking at around 1.5 million in August. Roughly three-quarters are passengers, while the remaining 25% are drivers. India now accounts for about 33% of BlaBlaCar\u2019s global carpool passengers, the company said.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" src=\"https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/blablacar-ceo-nicolas-brusson.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3061616\" srcset=\"https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/blablacar-ceo-nicolas-brusson.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/blablacar-ceo-nicolas-brusson.jpg?resize=150,100 150w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/blablacar-ceo-nicolas-brusson.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/blablacar-ceo-nicolas-brusson.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/blablacar-ceo-nicolas-brusson.jpg?resize=680,453 680w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/blablacar-ceo-nicolas-brusson.jpg?resize=1200,800 1200w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/blablacar-ceo-nicolas-brusson.jpg?resize=1280,853 1280w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/blablacar-ceo-nicolas-brusson.jpg?resize=430,287 430w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/blablacar-ceo-nicolas-brusson.jpg?resize=720,480 720w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/blablacar-ceo-nicolas-brusson.jpg?resize=900,600 900w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/blablacar-ceo-nicolas-brusson.jpg?resize=800,533 800w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/blablacar-ceo-nicolas-brusson.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/blablacar-ceo-nicolas-brusson.jpg?resize=668,445 668w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/blablacar-ceo-nicolas-brusson.jpg?resize=563,375 563w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/blablacar-ceo-nicolas-brusson.jpg?resize=926,617 926w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/blablacar-ceo-nicolas-brusson.jpg?resize=708,472 708w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/blablacar-ceo-nicolas-brusson.jpg?resize=50,33 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><span class=\"wp-element-caption__text\">BlaBlaCar Co-founder anD CEO Nicolas Brusson<\/span><span class=\"wp-block-image__credits\"><strong>Image Credits:<\/strong>BlaBlaCar<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Trip-wise, BlaBlaCar recorded its strongest growth in India, with 13.5 million trips completed as of September 30, up from 9.1 million during the same period last year. Brazil remained slightly ahead, with 14 million trips this year compared with 11.7 million in 2023, while France ranked third with 5.6 million trips, broadly flat from a year earlier.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cFor us, the center of gravity has shifted away from our initial markets in Western Europe toward places like Japan, Turkey \u2014 and increasingly, India,\u201d Brusson told TechCrunch.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Although BlaBlaCar does not yet generate revenue from India, drivers on its platform earned around \u20b9713 million (about $8 million) in August alone, the company said. On average, drivers earn about \u20b9390 (roughly $4) per seat in India, with an average trip distance of 180 kilometers (about 112 miles). <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">By comparison, average driver earnings are about \u20ac15 (around $17) in France and roughly \u20ac6.5 (roughly $7) in Brazil, even though trip distances are broadly similar in India and Brazil and shorter than France\u2019s average of about 250 kilometers (roughly 155 miles). The difference, BlaBlaCar said, reflects lower local purchasing power and cost-sharing expectations in India.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Nearly 70% of BlaBlaCar\u2019s Indian users are between the ages of 18 and 34, and about 95% of activity takes place through its mobile app. Roughly half of all rides in India occur along the country\u2019s 15 busiest intercity routes, while the other half comes from outside the top 150 corridors \u2014 evidence of growing adoption beyond major metros and into smaller cities. Among the busiest routes are Pune\u2013Thane and Pune\u2013Nashik in Maharashtra, Bengaluru\u2013Chittoor in Andhra Pradesh, and several others linking mid-sized urban centers.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-no-hurry-to-start-monetization\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"%E2%80%9CNo_hurry%E2%80%9D_to_start_monetization\"><\/span>\u201cNo hurry\u201d to start monetization<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" src=\"https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/blablacar-hq.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3061613\" srcset=\"https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/blablacar-hq.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/blablacar-hq.jpg?resize=150,100 150w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/blablacar-hq.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/blablacar-hq.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/blablacar-hq.jpg?resize=680,453 680w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/blablacar-hq.jpg?resize=1200,800 1200w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/blablacar-hq.jpg?resize=1280,853 1280w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/blablacar-hq.jpg?resize=430,287 430w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/blablacar-hq.jpg?resize=720,480 720w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/blablacar-hq.jpg?resize=900,600 900w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/blablacar-hq.jpg?resize=800,533 800w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/blablacar-hq.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/blablacar-hq.jpg?resize=668,445 668w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/blablacar-hq.jpg?resize=563,375 563w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/blablacar-hq.jpg?resize=926,617 926w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/blablacar-hq.jpg?resize=708,472 708w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/blablacar-hq.jpg?resize=50,33 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><span class=\"wp-element-caption__text\">BlaBlaCar HQ in Paris<\/span><span class=\"wp-block-image__credits\"><strong>Image Credits:<\/strong>BlaBlaCar<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Despite all this growth, BlaBlaCar is not looking to enable monetization in India anytime soon.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe are in no hurry to start introducing a fee or generating revenue in India. We are focused on generating usage, and we have the playback because we\u2019ve done that in several markets,\u201d Brusson told TechCrunch.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Nonetheless, BlaBlaCar plans to set up its local office in India and have the first hire by the end of this year or early next year, Brusson said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">BlaBlaCar does not view ride-hailing platforms such as Uber and Ola as its competitors in India. Brusson described them as \u201cdemand-led\u201d products, while BlaBlaCar, he said, is \u201csupply-led.\u201d Instead, the company sees people driving their own cars \u2014 or opting for readily available trains and buses \u2014 as its main substitutes.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-challenges-on-its-way-to-success\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Challenges_on_its_way_to_success\"><\/span>Challenges on its way to success<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">BlaBlaCar still faces some challenges in India. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">State regulations around carpooling are ambiguous, which has brought the service under scrutiny in some cities. Some users, including Jain, have complained that  it can be difficult to reach BlaBlaCar\u2019s customer support, which often replies with automated messages. The company told TechCrunch it operates a \u201cblended model,\u201d with an outsourced local team handling most day-to-day queries and a smaller group at its Paris headquarters managing complex issues and quality checks.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">BlaBlaCar introduced an ID Check feature in India to verify users\u2019 identities through government-issued documents \u2014 a tool it later rolled out globally. However, TechCrunch found that users can still book or publish a ride even if their ID check is incomplete.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThis is a deliberate design choice to make it easier for new members to engage with the platform,\u201d the company said in response. \u201cID verification is just one part of our broader trust and safety framework; we don\u2019t rely on a single feature, but on multiple, layered mechanisms that work together to build confidence within our community.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1252\" src=\"https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/blablacar-id-check-verification-screenshots_3c92ae.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3061659\" srcset=\"https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/blablacar-id-check-verification-screenshots_3c92ae.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/blablacar-id-check-verification-screenshots_3c92ae.jpg?resize=150,98 150w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/blablacar-id-check-verification-screenshots_3c92ae.jpg?resize=300,196 300w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/blablacar-id-check-verification-screenshots_3c92ae.jpg?resize=768,501 768w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/blablacar-id-check-verification-screenshots_3c92ae.jpg?resize=680,443 680w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/blablacar-id-check-verification-screenshots_3c92ae.jpg?resize=1200,783 1200w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/blablacar-id-check-verification-screenshots_3c92ae.jpg?resize=1280,835 1280w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/blablacar-id-check-verification-screenshots_3c92ae.jpg?resize=430,280 430w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/blablacar-id-check-verification-screenshots_3c92ae.jpg?resize=720,470 720w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/blablacar-id-check-verification-screenshots_3c92ae.jpg?resize=900,587 900w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/blablacar-id-check-verification-screenshots_3c92ae.jpg?resize=800,522 800w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/blablacar-id-check-verification-screenshots_3c92ae.jpg?resize=1536,1002 1536w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/blablacar-id-check-verification-screenshots_3c92ae.jpg?resize=668,436 668w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/blablacar-id-check-verification-screenshots_3c92ae.jpg?resize=575,375 575w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/blablacar-id-check-verification-screenshots_3c92ae.jpg?resize=946,617 946w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/blablacar-id-check-verification-screenshots_3c92ae.jpg?resize=708,462 708w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/blablacar-id-check-verification-screenshots_3c92ae.jpg?resize=50,33 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><span class=\"wp-block-image__credits\"><strong>Image Credits:<\/strong>Jagmeet Singh \/ TechCrunch<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The company added that more than 70% of trips in India are made with drivers who have completed government ID verification. BlaBlaCar also displays user reviews and ratings and verifies accounts through phone numbers and email addresses.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe actively encourage members to complete all verification steps, as fully verified profiles \u2014 with photo and ID \u2014 significantly increase the chances of finding carpoolers. Profiles lacking these elements tend to receive fewer bookings,\u201d the company said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Some BlaBlaCar users in India also report frustration when drivers or passengers cancel trips at the last minute, sometimes even after reaching the meeting point. Additionally, the app lacks a live location\u2013sharing feature, which Jain noted limits BlaBlaCar\u2019s use for those trying to book rides on behalf of family members or friends.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">BlaBlaCar has adapted its product to better suit Indian users, introducing features such as \u201cmeeting-point logic\u201d to make coordination easier. Unlike in countries such as France, where designated carpooling zones exist, India lacks fixed pickup areas. Drivers and passengers typically agree to meet at convenient spots along the route \u2014 a petrol station, for instance, or near a highway exit. The app now suggests and displays these locations using a mix of machine-learning algorithms and user input, helping reduce detours and align with India\u2019s on-the-ground infrastructure, the company said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Globally, BlaBlaCar expects to reach about 150 million passengers this year, including users of its bus services, which operate in markets such as France but are not yet available in India. As BlaBlaCar broadens its global footprint, India\u2019s unexpected rise has positioned it at the heart of the company\u2019s next phase of growth.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<blockquote><p><strong><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">If you liked the article, do not forget to share it with your friends. Follow us on\u00a0<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><a style=\"color: #ff0000;\" href=\"https:\/\/news.google.com\/publications\/CAAqBwgKMN63nwsw68G3Aw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Google News<\/a><\/span>\u00a0too, click on the star and choose us from your favorites.<\/span><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>If you want to read more like this article, you can visit our <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/technology\/\" target=\"_blank\" >Technology<\/a><\/span> category.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"color: black;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/2025\/10\/25\/india-the-market-blablacar-once-walked-away-from-is-now-its-biggest\/\" target=\"_blank\" >Source<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Every few weekends, 21-year-old student Lavanya Jain opens the BlaBlaCar app to find a lift from Noida on the outskirts of New Delhi to his home in Kandhla, a small town in northern India\u2019s Uttar Pradesh state. The 120-kilometer journey costs him about \u20b9500, the equivalent of about $6. That\u2019s a fraction of the \u20b91,500\u2013\u20b92,000,&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-696748","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-technology"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/696748","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=696748"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/696748\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=696748"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=696748"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=696748"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}