Bengaluru-based Indian ride-hailing start-up Ola is testing a premium service that will offer rides without cancellations. According to a report by The Economic Times (ET), the company is currently piloting the new service in Bengaluru.
Announcing the new plan on Twitter, Bhavish Agarwal, the co-founder and chief executive officer (CEO) of Ola wrote,
“Testing out a new premium service by @Olacabs!
Prime Plus: Best drivers, top cars, no cancellations or operational hassles. Will go live for select customers in Bangalore today. Do try it out.
I’ll be using it frequently and will share my experiences here on Twitter.”
Testing out a new premium service by @Olacabs!
Prime Plus: Best drivers, top cars, no cancellations or operational hassles. Will go live for select customers in Bangalore today. Do try it out 🙂👍🏼
I’ll be using it frequently and will share my experiences here on Twitter. pic.twitter.com/c8YDDgnbPU
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As of now, the service will go live in Bengaluru with some selected Ola users.
The founder did not share any details regarding the pricing. However, he shared a screenshot of a booking that revealed the premium service was priced at Rs 455, significantly cheaper than Ola Mini and Ola Prime. Although, a company spokesperson told ET that the new service is expected to be more costly than the other Ola services. The report also stated that the company is not planning to hire new drivers for this premium plus service.
The start-up recently raised $300 million in a funding round led by a sovereign fund company. The recently raised capital would help the company to meet its expansion plans and corporate needs. Additionally, it helped the company to achieve a $6 billion valuation.
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Prior to this, it raised $200 million at a valuation of $5 billion in January 2022 from companies like Tekne Private Ventures, Alpine Opportunities Fund and Edelweiss.
