Indian comedian Kunal Kamra and OLA CEO Bhavish Aggarwal exchanged a heated feud which started on October 5 when the comedian made a post on social media platform X to raise awareness about the alleged service issues that OLA Electric customers are having with the company.
Kamra also tagged Nitin Gadkari, Minister of Road Transport and Highways of India, along with the official account of ‘Jago Grahak Jago‘ social awareness program of the government.
“Do indian consumers have a voice? Do they deserve this? Two wheelers are many daily wage workers lifeline… @nitin_gadkari is this how Indians will get to using EV’s? @jagograhakjago any word? Anyone who has an issue with OLA electric leave your story below tagging all…” the post said.
The post also included an image of OLA electric scooters parked outside an OLA Electric store to criticize the brand for its poor customer service.
In reply to Kamra’s post, Aggarwal said “If you can’t help, then shut up and let us fix the real customer issues,” which intensified the feud between the two.
In one of the replies, Aggarwal in a personal tone said to Kamra,
“Chot lagi? Dard hua? Aaja service center. Bahut kaam hai. [Are you hurt? Feeling pain? Come to the service center. There’s a lot of work]. I will pay better than your flop shows pay you. Show your audience how much you care or if it’s all just gas and BS.”
On October 17, Kamra again took to X to take a jibe at the OLA CEO.
“Ola electric hasn’t disclosed any plan to issue refunds or put an end date to current customer complaints. We don’t even know If there is a plan… All I can do is Let @bhash know that he has to put out a public plan which doesn’t include employing me.” said Kamra on X
Ola electric hasn’t disclosed any plan to issue refunds or put an end date to current customer complaints. We don’t even know
— Kunal Kamra (@kunalkamra88) October 17, 2024
If there is a plan…
All I can do is Let @bhash know that he has to put out a public plan which doesn’t include employing me.
As reported by Reuters on October 10, India’s Ministry of Heavy Industries has ordered an audit of OLA Electric’s service centers. The audit aims to investigate reports of delayed and unsatisfactory after-sales service, as well as inaccurate invoicing, according to Reuters.
The government audit intensifies scrutiny of the electric vehicle manufacturer. OLA Electric already faces government oversight due to a staggering 10,000 customer complaints. The audit will likely examine the company’s service infrastructure and billing practices to address customer grievances.
OLA’s shares plummeted 40% this week, a stark contrast to its impressive market debut in August. The downturn was largely triggered by a public controversy involving OLA’s founder and CEO, Bhavish Aggarwal, and comedian Kunal Kamra. The dispute began when Kamra took to social media to express dissatisfaction with OLA’s electric scooters, prompting a response from Aggarwal.
According to the report, the audit aims to verify that OLA Electric is properly maintaining its service centres and upholding warranty commitments to consumers. These requirements are crucial for the company to qualify for incentives under the government’s electric vehicle (EV) promotion scheme, a source revealed to Reuters.
The Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI), the Ministry’s testing and certification agency, will conduct an audit. The next steps will be determined after the audit is completed, according to sources. OLA, the Ministry, and ARAI have not yet responded to inquiries.
The Ministry of Heavy Industries has sought feedback from the ARAI regarding OLA Electric’s eligibility under the FAME II scheme.
“Ola Electric is a beneficiary under the scheme whose eligibility certificate has been issued by ARAI. Therefore, you are requested to provide your comments,” the ministry said in a letter to ARAI.
According to the reports, OLA Electric’s eligibility to receive incentives under the government program hangs in the balance, pending the outcome of the review. If the company is found to be in violation of the scheme’s guidelines, it could face consequences, including potentially losing its eligibility for further incentives.
A recent investigation by Reuters revealed alarming issues with OLA Electric’s service infrastructure. During a visit to 35 OLA centers across 10 Indian states last year, significant backlogs were observed due to understaffing. At one center, there were more than 100 scooters parked, many covered in bird droppings.
Additionally, HSBC analysts reported similar findings in a September note, stating “most Ola service hubs appeared overwhelmed by the service requests.”
According to a September report by Mint, OLA Electric received as many as 80,000 complaints in a month.
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