German automaker Daimler is investing more than $10 million in chauffeur service start-up Blacklane.
Daimler said it was investing an "eight-digit" sum in the service that operates in more than 50 countries worldwide.
Blacklane allows users to book self-employed chauffeurs for a fixed price. The service primarily targets business travelers, whereas rivals such as Uber have focused on a broader customer base.
Daimler said in a statement Monday that the market for professional ride services is estimated to be worth about $30 billion a year at present.
The maker of Mercedes-Benz cars has invested heavily in transportation services in recent years, including the cab-hailing app mytaxi and car-sharing company Car2Go.
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