Ola launches inaugural UK services in South Wales

UK & India – August 20, 2018: Ola, one of the world’s largest ride-hailing platforms, has today launched its first UK services across South Wales.

Ola will be the only ride-hailing app in south Wales to offer customers the option of Private Hire Vehicles (PHVs) and Taxis on one user-friendly platform, which will include additional transportation options in the future to provide passengers with greater choice.

To celebrate its UK launch, Ola is offering customers a limited number of discounted rides to try its new service. Customers can download the Ola app on Google Play or the iOS App Store and register for an account to begin booking rides.

Ola places the quality of rides at the heart of its approach, and welcomes drivers to its platform to reap the benefits of market-leading introductory commission rates – as low as 10% for PHV drivers and 5% for Taxis – as well as payments made daily, to help them earn more money and access it easily.

Ben Legg, Managing Director of Ola UK, said: “This is an exciting moment for everyone at Ola and we are very pleased that south Wales is where we will be starting our UK journey. Over recent weeks, Ola has received positive feedback from drivers in South Wales and looks forward to providing passengers with a dynamic, new responsible service. We are determined to do a great job for the community and work closely with local authorities to help with their mobility goals.”

Ola seeks to lead the industry with its approach to passenger safety including Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) screened drivers and processes such as 24/7 voice support, options to share ride details with emergency contacts and in-app emergency features. Recognised for its collaborative approach, Ola works with national governments and local authorities, to help solve transport mobility issues in innovative and meaningful ways.

Ola is working with local authorities across the UK to expand nationwide by the end of 2018 and has already obtained licences to operate in Greater Manchester.

Ola’s entry into the UK follows its successful launch in Australia in February 2018, where it now operates in seven major cities. Over 40,000 drivers across Australia have registered since its launch in February and have completed millions of rides. Ola now conducts 1 billion rides each year globally, with more than 1 million drivers and 125 million customers in over 110 cities.

Drivers can learn more about driving and registering with Ola by visiting drive.olacabs.com.

About Ola

Founded in 2011 by Bhavish Aggarwal and Ankit Bhati, Ola is one of the world’s largest ride-hailing companies. Ola integrates city transportation for customers and driver-partners onto a mobile technology platform ensuring convenient, transparent, and quick service fulfilment. Ola is focused on leveraging the best of technology and building innovative solutions ground-up, that are relevant at global scale. Notably, in 2016, Ola Play the world’s first connected car platform for ride-sharing was launched, transforming commuting experiences and setting the tone for global innovation in this space. Using the Ola mobile app, users across 110+ cities, can connect with over 1 million drivers across cabs, auto-rickshaws, and taxis. Driven by a hyperlocal approach, Ola is committed to its mission of building mobility for a billion people.