News reports have appeared in various medias that a 26-year-old Ola Electric customer has set on fire an Ola Electric showroom in Kalaburagi (Karnataka) after his 20-day old electric scooter of the respective brand kept giving trouble. It lay unrepaired, the reports have stated, which infuriated the customer. 

An altercation with the Ola Electric dealership staff is said to have led to an escalation in the situation where the e-scooter owner poured petrol and set the dealership on fire. 

Instances of customer fury are not new to Ola Electric, neither is controversy. A group of customers in Ichalkaranji (Maharashtra) are known to have shuttered an Ola dealership in their city sometime ago owing to concerns about extended repair durations and lengthy waiting hours. The company, as per the media reports, was forced to shut down the showroom. 

Instances of the front fork of Ola e-scooter fracturing while riding haven’t been rare either. These have led to accidents and injuries. It took some time for Ola Electric to offer a solution of a new fork design. 

For all the hype the Ola Electric’s young founder Bhavish Aggarwal has created as well as continues to create with announcements such as the indigenous ‘Bharat’ battery cell manufacture and introduction of three e-motorcycles early next year, customer satisfaction seems to be an Achilles hill all the while. 

The Kalaburagi incident is certain to add a negative impression about the company’s only product line, the S1 e-scooter. Claimed to have shelved its plans to manufacture electric autonomous passenger vehicle, Ola Electric’s founder recently attracted a controversy as he announced during a company event that his company is the world’s fourth largest electric vehicle company not including China. 

A case has been registered against the Ola Electric e-scooter customer in the Kalaburagi police station. 

In another development, the shares of Ola Electric Mobility Ltd traded with losses of up to four-percent on 9 September 2024, according to a report by Hormaz Fatakia in CNBCTV18.com. It was on 9 September 2024 that the one-month share lock-in period ended. 

One of the reasons behind this performance was attributed to the company losing its market share to two-wheeler majors like TVS Motor Company, Bajaj Auto, Ather Energy and Hero MotoCorp. 

Ola Electric’s market share dropped to 32 percent in August as established players like TVS and Bajaj gained into the electric scooter market share, holding a share of 19 percent each. 

Bengaluru-based electric vehicle company Ola Electric has commenced what could be seen as the next evolution of the automotive purchasing experience. The company has commenced pilot ‘HyperDelivery’ for its range of e-scooters, which will see customers get same-day delivery and registration for their EV.

HyperDelivery is being tested in Bengaluru, which will then be rolled out in a phased manner across India. HyperDelivery is being tested in Bengaluru, which will then be rolled out in a phased manner across India.

“We have significantly cut the processing time of registering the vehicles through AI-led automation and by moving the registration process completely in-house. We are excited to announce #HyperDelivery which has completely transformed the vehicle purchase and delivery experience in the automotive segment. With this we are ensuring a much smoother purchase experience for our customers, eliminating tedious purchase processes and longer delivery timelines,” said the company in a statement.

The EV maker shared that it is leveraging AI to automate the majority of the steps in a registration process, which eliminates the need for additional resources during the typical registration process.

Numeros Motors, a new-age original equipment manufacturer specialising in indigenous electric vehicles (EVs), has launched an NFT-backed loyalty programme in collaboration with Polygon. This first of its-kind initiative in the EV industry, integrating blockchain technology into customer engagement, will reward the first 1,000 buyers of Diplos with a unique digital collectible.

The NFT series ‘The Journey’ consists of 10 original artworks, each with 100 copies, that depict Diplos conquering the essence of India's many landscapes and the spirit of adventure that characterises the brand's motto, ‘Gets It Done’. Customers that own one join a limited group that prioritises performance, resiliency and progressive mobility. These NFTs, which are protected on Polygon's blockchain, provide exclusivity, authenticity and a more in-depth interaction with the brand.

This programme adds value to the Diplos experience by providing holders with access to premium products, invites to special events and priority customer service in addition to the NFT. These NFTs serve as a permanent remembrance of their role in Numeros Motors' history since they are soul-bound, meaning they are always connected to their original owners. In April of this year, Numeros Motors will also open its first store in Bangalore that is owned and run by the firm.

Shreyas Shibulal, Founder and CEO, Numeros Motors, said, "Diplos was built for those who move forward, challenge limits and embrace new possibilities. This NFT initiative is our way of recognising and celebrating our customers who believe in our vision. By integrating blockchain technology into customer engagement, we are creating an ownership experience that extends beyond the ride itself."

Sulajja Firodia Motwani, the Founder & CEO of Kinetic Green, was recently awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Literature by the Tilak Maharashtra Vidyapeeth Institute in Pune.

The recognition was conferred to Motwani for her contribution towards driving the adoption of electric vehicles in the country. An MBA from Carnegie Mellon University, Pennsylvania, USA, she has also worked towards promoting manufacturing in the country and has held notable positions at the Federation of Indian Chambers Of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), Society of Manufacturers of Electric Vehicles (SMEV) and Indian Federation of Green Energy (IFGE).

“I am deeply humbled and honoured to receive this recognition. The Firodia family has always by synonymous with strong values, nation building, self-reliance and a deep-rooted sense of nationalism. This acknowledgement inspires me to further serve for the greater good, a mission that we at Kinetic Green are constantly working towards,” said Motwani.

Škoda Auto has released a teaser clip of the all-new Elroq vRS, offering a first glimpse of both its exterior and interior. The world premiere is scheduled to take place digitally on 3 April 2025 and will be streamed live on Škoda’s official YouTube channel.

Following its digital unveiling, the all-electric compact SUV will make its public debut at Milan Design Week 2025 in the Padiglione d'Arte Contemporanea gallery in the Porta Venezia Design District. In keeping with Škoda's Be More Elroq campaign, the exhibition will showcase the Elroq vRS as the focal point of an experiential journey from 8 to 13 April 2025. The show will also feature the official launch of Botas sneakers, which are based on Škoda Modern Solid design principles, in honour of the company's 130th anniversary. These sneakers were created in collaboration with the Škoda Auto design team. Members of the Škoda team will wear one of the three versions that are planned for the occasion.