“Prime+ has been a great pilot in Bengaluru over past couple of months. Today we’re opening it up for all customers in Bengaluru. Also, through this month launching in more cities!” Aggarwal tweeted.
In May, Ola launched the pilot programme of Prime Plus to select users in Bengaluru. The new premium service offers top cars and drivers and claims to be free of cancellations. ET had reported earlier that Prime Plus is priced higher than other categories available on Ola.
Currently, Ola operates the Mini, Auto and Bike categories. Users can also book Prime Sedan, Prime SUV, and Rentals for four-wheeler taxis on its app. Drivers with experience in the Ola marketplace with top ratings and other quality metrics will be eligible to offer the new service.
The Prime Plus service is separate from the electric vehicle (EV) cab service Ola is set to pilot. ET had reported in January that the SoftBank-backed platform plans to start its own EV cab service, the pilot of which is expected to begin in Bengaluru with around 1,000 cabs. It will be available on the Ola app as a separate category.
Discover the stories of your interest
Ola’s move to introduce a new cancellation-free service comes at a time when the ride hailing segment in India has seen customers suffer due to driver cancellations.
Recently, Bengaluru-based Ola saw its valuation being marked down by some of its existing investors. On May 11, ET reported that funds managed by US investment firm Vanguard marked down the valuation of Ola by 35% to $4.8 billion, according to regulatory filings with the US Securities and Exchange Commission.
Last July, in an effort to reduce driver cancellations on its platform, Ola’s key rival in India Uber had introduced new features that allowed drivers to see the final destination of the passenger before accepting rides. The move had followed feedback that the ride-hailing app received from its National Driver Advisory Council, which was launched in March 2022 to facilitate a two-way dialogue between Uber and drivers across six metro cities to address key issues.
As for autorickshaw rides, platforms such as Nexus Venture Partners-backed Rapido and Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC)-powered Namma Yatri have been nudging customers to tip drivers to reduce potential trip cancellations.
For all the latest Technology News Click Here
