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Travel + Leisure

You Can Now Order a Chauffeured Rolls-Royce Rideshare Right From Your Phone

Your next car booking could be a first-class experience. Premium chauffeur service Blacklane will offer the chance to book Rolls-Royce vehicles for the first time, introducing the luxe cars as a "Platinum Class" service, according to the company. The opulent vehicles are part of the company's Middle East expansion plans and are currently only available in Dubai. However, Blacklane co-founder and CEO Jens Wohltorf said he was "excited to plan the ambitious next phase of how our new Platinum Class comes to life around the world very soon.' Each ride in Blacklane's new Rolls-Royce Ghost Series II vehicles will feature a two-tone black and white exterior and include a specially-trained professional chauffeur. The cars are known for their "appropriate level of opulence, isolation from the real world, regal bearing, and built-in exclusivity," according to Car and Driver , which estimates the vehicle can top more than $422,000 in price. To add to its lush design, the cars boast finely grained leather, wood and metal accents, a roomy backseat, and even massaging rear seats. In Dubai, the new Rolls-Royce Ghost Series II cars will be available to book for services like airport transfers as well as for "immediate hailing" from select locations. Within the United States, travelers who book Blacklane's "First Class" service can expect to find several luxury cars, including the Mercedes S-Class, BMW 7 Series, and the Audi A8. The chauffeur service also offers an "Electric Class," which features the Tesla Model S, Tesla Model X, and the Jaguar I-PACE, along with a "Business Class," in which travelers can expect to find the Mercedes E-Class, BMW 5 Series, Audi A6, and the Cadillac XTS. Beyond the vehicles, Blacklane said it rigorously trains its chauffeurs to specialize in customer service and safety. The company has also partnered with different travel providers to offer concierge and driver services to international clients. In 2018, Blacklane was selected to be the official chauffeur service for Emirates' first and business class passengers. For these customers traveling through New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), for example, Emirates provides a complimentary car service from the terminal to anywhere within 50 miles, allowing them to skip the long taxi lines and the rush to find an Uber or Lyft. Blacklane was started in Germany in 2011 and now operates in cities across the world with hubs in the U.S., the United Kingdom, Spain, Singapore, and the United Arab Emirates. In the U.S., the company has drivers in dozens of cities, including New York, Chicago, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Dallas, Washington D.C., and beyond.