Netizens Slam Ola's Bhavish Aggarwal Over E-Scooter Quality
Bhavish Aggarwal, CEO of Ola Electric, faced a wave of criticism from netizens over the quality of his company’s electric scooters while presenting an indigenously-made lithium battery cell to Union Railways and Electronics & IT Minister, Ashwini Vaishnaw. Ola recently announced plans to integrate its own battery cells into vehicles by Q1 FY26, but concerns over product quality have overshadowed the news.
Netizens took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to express dissatisfaction, questioning Ola’s ability to meet international standards. One user remarked, "Our business needs to be quality-wise accurate globally. Working on multiple businesses without addressing quality concerns will affect Ola’s footprint, especially with two-wheelers". Another user highlighted battery degradation, claiming their e-scooter's battery deteriorated after only a year of use.
The Indian-made Bharat 4680 cell, currently under trial production at Ola's Gigafactory, promises enhanced performance, including a wider operating window, longer battery life, and faster charging. However, despite these advancements, customers have expressed skepticism.
Ola’s social media platforms have been flooded with complaints following a recent fire incident at an Ola Electric showroom in Karnataka. Customers have reported issues ranging from faulty software to inadequate customer service, further compounding concerns over the company’s quality control. Reports suggest that Ola Electric receives approximately 80,000 complaints monthly, with peaks reaching 6,000-7,000 complaints per day, leading to overwhelmed service centers and delayed resolutions.
One user criticized Ola’s branding, suggesting that naming the product as 'Bharat 4680' reflected unnecessary nationalism. 'Ever heard of China cell or Tesla’s America cell?' the user asked, emphasizing the need for technological prowess rather than exaggerated claims.
As Ola Electric faces increasing scrutiny, the company must address customer grievances to restore confidence in its e-scooters.