India’s expanding electric cab business runs into severe vehicle crunch
Electric vehicles are much more expensive to manufacture and buy and existing makers are already struggling with a backlog of orders.
Join our WhatsApp Community to receive travel deals, free stays, and special offers!
- Join Now -
Join our WhatsApp Community to receive travel deals, free stays, and special offers!
- Join Now -
This article was originally published in Rest of World, which covers technology’s impact outside the West.
Rahul Mathur has sworn by BluSmart since its early days. The electric-taxi rideshare company was his preferred choice for the daily commute as a startup founder in Delhi two years ago, and it’s his top pick as an investor who closely follows the ride-hailing industry now. So much so that he is now a Prive member – part of an exclusive, invite-only group of BluSmart loyalists.
Recently, though, it’s been harder for Mathur to get rides.
“Despite being a BluSmart Prive member, which is the top tier, I still have some slots where I cannot find a pre-scheduled cab,” he told Rest of World.
In India, electric cab companies such as BluSmart are carving out a growing share of the ride-hailing market from the longstanding industry duopoly of Ola and Uber. BluSmart’s fully electric fleet appeals to environmentally conscious users as well as those drawn in by convenience: the app guarantees no canceled rides and no surge pricing. BluSmart cars are clean and well-maintained, with bottles of water and mints on offer. This has gained BluSmart a loyal customer base in New Delhi and Bengaluru, known as India’s Silicon Valley. The company plans to expand to Mumbai, the...
