The country’s largest online cab aggregator, Ola makes its debut in the international market with Australia. Starting today, Ola is inviting private hire vehicle owners in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth to register with Ola as its driver-partners, with an introductory offer of only 7.5 per cent commission charges from driver-partners who join now. In India, Ola charges around 20 – 22 per cent commissions from its driver-partners.
Apart from providing the mandatory documents, in order to register, driver-partners are required to have an Android smartphone with an active data connection, failing which Ola will loan the Android smartphones to get them started, to be returned after Ola launches its iOS app.
“We are very excited about launching Ola in Australia and see immense potential for the ride-sharing ecosystem which embraces new technology and innovation” said Bhavish Aggarwal, co-founder & CEO, Ola. “With a strong focus on driver-partners and the community at large, we aim to create a high-quality and affordable travel experience for citizens and look forward to contributing to a healthy mobility ecosystem in Australia” he said.
At present Ola is accepting only private hire vehicles on its platform in Australia and is expected to launch its consumer app once it garners a significant driver-partner base. In 2016, ‘Ola Play’ the world’s first connected car platform for ride-sharing was launched, transforming commuting experiences and setting the tone for global innovation in this space. Beyond offering a highly personal experience for users during their rides, Ola Play also allows its partners like Microsoft, Apple Music, Sony Liv amongst others, to build a high quality interactive and productive experience for its users.