OLA ELECTRIC UNDER FIRE FROM CUSTOMERS AND INVESTORS

There have been instances when angry consumers burnt down showroom

- ARSHAD KHAN

CUSTOMERS' grievance is a regular affair outside Ola Electric's service centre in Delhi's Moti Nagar. A good number of customers who decided to get their hands on the company's electric vehicle anticipating that it will bring down running cost are struggling to get their product repaired or serviced. "I should have bought an Activa," said Ankit, 30, an angry customer who travelled over 10 km to get his e-scooter fixed.

Another customer who runs a small business said since the time he purchased the Ola's e-scooter, the machine has had one issue after another. "The company should have addressed all the issues before hitting the market... It is no surprise that some consumers are burning their scooters due to frustration," he said while showing piles of scooters stacked up for servicing.

Be it Google review or social media platform X, the internet is full of similar consumer experiences. There have been instances when consumers took extreme steps such as burning down an entire showroom out of sheer anger. The situation has reached to such an alarming level that now the government has stepped in to protect consumers' rights. Besides customers, investors are facing impact arising from bad press. Ola shares have crashed about 45% from its peak, leaving investors in a tight spot who entered at higher levels.

A brake to a head start