OLA LAUNCHES SELF-DRIVE CAR RENTALS
Cab aggregator Ola on Thursday formally launched its self-drive car rental service, Ola Drive. It plans to add 20,000 vehicles on the new platform by the end of 2020, the company said in a statement. The service, which was piloted last month in Bengaluru, will soon be available in Hyderabad, Mumbai and New Delhi.
Ola Drive will allow users to design their own rental package, with an option to preset everything from the number of kilometers and hours to fuel, before booking a vehicle. The service will have designated pick-up and drop-off points located across residential and commercial hubs. Users can choose to book a car of their choice—sedans, hatchbacks and SUVs— for a minimum of 2 hours.
All Ola Drive cars will be equipped with 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 support and safety features, such as a 24/7 helpline, road-side assistance and an emergency button.
Ola Drive is also considering a long-term car subscription option, and a corporate leasing service, Anuj Srinivas, chief sales and marketing officer, Ola, said at a press briefing.
He added that Ola Drive has around 500 vehicles in Bengaluru, which is sourced directly from automobile manufacturers and original equipment manufacturers. Ola, however, has no plans to add other vehicle-sourcing models, Srinivas added.