An Indian ride-hailing service has reached the United Kingdom with India’s most common mode of public transport autorickshaws or tuk-tuks.
The company launched the service on March 22 in Liverpool.
A fleet of bright green Bajaj and Piaggio autorickshaws hit the roads of Liverpool and reportedly the company offered customers free rickshaw rides on the first day around the Liverpool city center. This can be seen as a part of Ola’s bid to take on its biggest rival, Uber, on a global level.
According to a report in LiverpoolEcho.uk, the introduction of what are being called ‘tuk-tuks’ in Liverpool was part of the launch of Ola’s service in Merseyside.
According to the report, Ola has been granted licenses in each of the Merseyside boroughs and it has already brought on board over 500 drivers.
“I have been driving passengers around the city today and have really enjoyed the chance to discuss the challenges that the community faces and how we can help with our new technology. We are celebrating bringing more travel and employment choices to Liverpudlians with our ride-hailing app with the help of the community choir,” Financial Express quoted Ben Legg, managing director of Ola UK, as saying.
While the free ride offer has ended, Ola is offering riders 50 percent off on their first journey if they download the app and hail a ride before the end of April.
We had an absolute blast in Liverpool this weekend! Did you all enjoy your free rides? #OlaLiverpool pic.twitter.com/cwXSlDTXyq
— Ola UK (@OlainUK) March 24, 2019
Ola launched its services in the UK in Cardiff in August last year. Currently, Ola is present in Bristol, Bath, and Exeter. Its launch in Liverpool makes it the fifth city it is entering, as it looks to try into other cities in the north of England later this year.
By Sowmya Sangam
