BlaBlaCar Enters Ecuador's Growing App-Based Transport Market

Ecuador's app-based transport market has another name in the mix.

Primicias reports that BlaBlaCar has entered Ecuador with a service it describes as carro compartido, or carpooling.

The platform joins a market where Uber, DiDi, inDrive, Clipp and Redi already operate.

How The Service Works

Primicias describes carpooling as a collaborative mobility option in which private drivers and passengers share a vehicle for the same route and split trip costs.

BlaBlaCar says its average trip distance is between 200 and 300 kilometers.

The company says the platform connects drivers who publish empty seats on trips they already planned with passengers who need to reach the same destination more directly or economically than other travel options.

Ecuador Launch

Primicias reports that BlaBlaCar is present in 21 countries.

The Ecuador launch is part of the company's expansion into eight Latin American countries: Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Bolivia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay.

The company says it has more than 29 million unique active users per year globally.

Primicias reports that BlaBlaCar's average booked passengers per trip is 2.1.

What This Means For Expats

For foreign residents, BlaBlaCar could become another option for intercity travel, especially on routes where buses are inconvenient and private taxis are expensive.

But this is still private car-sharing. Before using it, check the driver's profile, route details, pickup point, payment expectations and safety practices. It is not the same thing as a regulated taxi or an interprovincial bus.

Source: Primicias