India’s leading cab-hailing service provider — Ola has today announced that it has launched its services in New Zealand and has started offering rides in Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch. Also, in a move to celebrate the launch, the company has also declared 50% off on all Ola rides for the first month.
The company said that keeping in mind the safety and security of the customers, it will include several features like ride tracking and an in-app emergency button, which allows customers to instantly share important information such as, location coordinates, vehicle and driver information with their family and emergency services.
Ola had announced its plans to enter the New Zealand market in September and had also appointed Brian Dewil as the Country Manager. He said:
Entering New Zealand is an important step for Ola and the ridesharing industry here. Over recent weeks, we’ve received enthusiastic feedback from drivers across Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch.
The company is putting particular emphasis on its relationship with drivers by charging a lower per-ride commission rate than that being charged by Uber or Zoomy. Ola is entering the market with an introductory commission rate of 9 percent, well below the 15 percent charged by Zoomy and the 20-25 percent charged by Uber.
This is the third major geographical expansion from Ola. Earlier this year, in February, the company launched in Australia, where it employs more than 50,000 drivers in seven major cities. Last month, the Indian cab-hailing service provider also began operating in the UK. It has also set up teams in Dhaka, Bangladesh, and Colombo, Sri Lanka.
