A customer leaves after refuelling his bike at a fuel station in New Delhi, India, March 6, 2026. [Photo/Agencies]
Rising fuel prices triggered by the Middle East war are driving a sharp increase in carpooling, with a ride-sharing platform reporting a surge in new users seeking cheaper ways to travel.
The carpooling platform Bla-BlaCar said soaring energy costs have pushed 600,000 additional drivers onto the app this year — 20 percent more than initially projected — as commuters look to offset the rising cost of fuel.
In India, its single biggest market with more than 20 million users in 2025, the number of passengers has increased by 40 percent since the start of the US-Israeli airstrikes against Iran on Feb 28.
Last year, the global carpooling leader posted record-breaking figures in the world's most populous country India, outpacing Brazil with 19 million users and France with 7 million, according to Benjamin Retourne, the platform's chief product officer.
