Indian ride-hailing firm Ola starts operations in Britain

Britain is Ola's second venture into a foreign market after it started operations in Australia


Afp August 21, 2018
Bhavish Aggarwal, CEO and co-founder of Ola, an app-based cab service provider, poses in front of an Ola cab in Mumbai March 3, 2015. PHOTO: REUTERS

Indian ride-hailing company Ola began operating in south Wales on Monday ahead of a planned expansion across Britain by the end of the year, intensifying its battle with US rival Uber.

Britain is Ola's second venture into a foreign market after it started operations in Australia in February.

Unlike Uber, the company offers customers the option of private hire vehicles and taxis on one platform.

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Ola "looks forward to providing passengers with a dynamic, new responsible service," Ben Legg, managing director of Ola UK, said in a statement.

Legg emphasised Ola's screening processes for drivers and safety features such as 24/7 voice support and an option to share ride details with emergency contacts.

Ola was launched in 2011 and claims to handle around a billion rides a year across India's major centres and seven cities in Australia.

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Ride-hailing apps are booming in India despite stiff opposition from traditional taxi firms and some initial concerns about passenger safety.

Ola and Uber are locked in an aggressive fight for a greater share of India's taxi-app market, which is estimated to be worth around $10 billion.

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