Cab aggregator Ola today launched a self-drive car sharing service on its platform ‘Ola Drive’ with a plan to add 20,000 vehicles by end of 2020. The service has been initially rolled out for users in Bengaluru on a pilot basis. Soon it will extend the service to Hyderabad, Mumbai, and New Delhi.
At present with over 200 million subscribers, Ola Drive has the largest user base for a car-sharing service in the country.
The service offers a highly customised tour plan enabling the user to design his own package, controlling everything from the number of kilometres and hours, to fuel inclusion. This freedom of choice allows for savings of up to 30% over other providers.
Ola Drive cars across segments will come equipped with Ola’s connected car platform ‘Ola Play’, enabled through a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment device, and will include GPS, media playback, and Bluetooth connectivity. Users will also have access to the platform’s support and safety features such as a 24/7 helpline, emergency button (which prompts an immediate call from Ola’s dedicated safety response team) and real-time tracking.
Ola will offer this service to its users in Bengaluru through pick-up stations located across many residential and commercial hubs. Users can choose to book a car of their choice for as little as two hours to as long as three months by paying a security deposit starting at Rs 2000, which makes Ola’s new venture the most flexible car-sharing service in India.
In the beginning, Ola Drive will be offered as a short-term self-drive car-sharing service as we look to commence long-term subscription, corporate leasing, and more options in the times to come.
