Ola Plans To Launch Its Electric Two-Wheeler Range In New Zealand

Bengaluru-based cab-hailing unicorn Ola is set to make a foray into the electric scooter segment, has announced that it will launch its electric two-wheeler in New Zealand.

Ola’s electric scooters will help support the New Zealand government’s goal of on-roading 64K new electric vehicles by the end of 2021, while also helping the public sector become carbon neutral by 2025, the company said in a statement.

Inc42 had reported that Bengaluru-based Ola Electric plans to launch electric scooters in India and Europe, which will be priced at its maiden two-wheeler lineup at around INR 90,000-INR 95,000 per unit.

The company said that it is in the advanced stages of setting up the world’s largest scooter factory in India.

Bhavish Agarwal, chairman and group CEO, Ola, said, “We welcome and strongly support the move by the Honorable Prime Minister and the New Zealand government towards carbon neutrality, especially in the mobility sector. We are excited about bringing our electric 2 wheelers to New Zealand to further accelerate the development of sustainable solutions. Climate change is a serious challenge and Ola is committed to moving the world to sustainable mobility through our products.” 

In May 2020, Ola Electric announced that it would start operating as a full-stack manufacturer of electric two-wheelers after acquiring Amsterdam-based Etergo BV. Etergo has developed an all-electric state-of-the-art AppScooter. First revealed in 2018, the AppScooter uses swappable high energy density batteries to deliver a range up to 240km and class-leading acceleration.

Earlier this year, Ola announced that it will hire over 2K people for its electric business as it rapidly builds a suite of electric and smart urban mobility solutions for consumers around the world. Ola Electric has raised about $400 Mn in funding from Tiger Global, Matrix India, Tata Sons Chairman Emeritus Ratan Tata and others.

News reports had earlier indicated that the Bengaluru-based startup is looking for 100 acres of unencumbered land to set-up a large manufacturing facility in India itself.

Brian Dewil, managing director, Ola NZ said the government’s climate emergency announcement puts more responsibility on transport providers to step up and make changes.

“Ola wants to play an important part in New Zealand’s journey to becoming carbon neutral. We’ve witnessed strong and steady growth in the e-scooter and e-bike sector so we believe Ola’s new scooter product will be welcomed by consumers as a way to contribute towards establishing a 0-carbon economy.”

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