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Ola to challenge Uber in UK ride-hailing market | Ola to challenge Uber in UK ride-hailing market |
(35 minutes later) | |
Indian taxi-hailing giant Ola is moving into the UK as it continues to challenge Uber around the world. | Indian taxi-hailing giant Ola is moving into the UK as it continues to challenge Uber around the world. |
The company, which was founded in 2011, has 125 million customers and already operates in 110 cities. It plans to start business in South Wales and Greater Manchester. | The company, which was founded in 2011, has 125 million customers and already operates in 110 cities. It plans to start business in South Wales and Greater Manchester. |
Unlike Uber it will offer a choice of private hire vehicle or black taxi. | Unlike Uber it will offer a choice of private hire vehicle or black taxi. |
It says it is working with local authorities across the UK to expand nationwide by the end of 2018. | It says it is working with local authorities across the UK to expand nationwide by the end of 2018. |
Ola says it will begin UK operations in South Wales in the next month. | Ola says it will begin UK operations in South Wales in the next month. |
This move is the first serious challenge in the UK to market-leading taxi-hailing app, Uber, which was founded two year's earlier than Ola, has three million drivers and operates in 600 cities in 65 countries. | |
Other apps such as Gett exist too in the UK. | |
Currently, Ola only operates in two countries, the UK will be its third, after starting its first operations in Australia earlier this year. | |
Both companies count Japan's Softbank as an investor, but the two already compete fiercely in India, although Uber pulled out of operating in South East Asia earlier this year. | |
'Compelling service' | 'Compelling service' |
The company's UK launch statement says it "seeks to lead the industry with its approach to passenger safety including Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)-screened drivers". | The company's UK launch statement says it "seeks to lead the industry with its approach to passenger safety including Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)-screened drivers". |
It also plans to offer round-the-clock voice support and an options to share journey details with a passenger's emergency contacts. | It also plans to offer round-the-clock voice support and an options to share journey details with a passenger's emergency contacts. |
It also stresses its willingness to engage with the authorities. | It also stresses its willingness to engage with the authorities. |
Bhavish Aggarwal, chief executive of Ola, said: "The UK is a fantastic place to do business and we look forward to providing a responsible, compelling, new service that can help the country meet its ever demanding mobility needs. | Bhavish Aggarwal, chief executive of Ola, said: "The UK is a fantastic place to do business and we look forward to providing a responsible, compelling, new service that can help the country meet its ever demanding mobility needs. |
"We look forward to our continued engagement with policymakers and regulators as we expand across the country and build a company embedded in the UK." | "We look forward to our continued engagement with policymakers and regulators as we expand across the country and build a company embedded in the UK." |
Ola's entry into the UK follows its launch in Australia in February 2018, where it now operates in seven major cities. | Ola's entry into the UK follows its launch in Australia in February 2018, where it now operates in seven major cities. |