India’s Ola to start service in London soon

INDIAN start-up Ola Cabs has said on Tuesday (26) that it has started to register drivers before launching commercial operations in London.

According to company sources, the Bhavish Aggarwal-led company is inviting tens of thousands of private hire vehicle (PHV) drivers who are allowed to work for ride-hailing companies across London.

The drivers asked to register themselves on the company platform, as it aims to launch its service in the city in the near future.

The company said in a statement: "Ola has begun registering licenced drivers in London as it prepares to launch operations in the city. With this, over 50,000 licensed drivers will be able to join Ola and provide mobility services in London.”

"Ola is recognised for its collaborative approach, working with national governments and local authorities, to help solve transport issues. The company has passed all regulatory audits so far, adhering to safety standards that are similar to those of TfL (Transport for London)."

The latest announcement has come a day after Ola’s US rival, world’s largest ride hailing application, Uber, got its commercial licence cancelled in the British capital.

The Bengaluru-based firm has already been operating its services in the UK cities, including Birmingham, Bristol, and Liverpool after it began its UK operations last year in Cardiff.

The firm has driven into foreign markets such as Australia, New Zealand, apart from Britain.

Ola’s service is available in over 250 major cities.

Uber’s commercial licence was revoked by TfL.

The move came after almost 14,000 trips were made by drivers with fake identities on the company’s platform.

This was the second time Uber lost its licence in the British capital in the last 36 months.