Bengaluru-based ride hailing platform Ola has launched its first UK services across South Wales, including in Cardiff, Newport and Vale of Glamorgan.
Ola claims that it will be the only ride-hailing app in South Wales to offer customers the option of Private Hire Vehicles (PHVs) and Taxis on one user-friendly platform, which will include additional transportation options in the future.
To celebrate its UK launch, Ola is offering customers a limited number of discounted rides to try its new service. Customers can download the Ola app on Google Play or the iOS App Store and register for an account to begin booking rides.
To attract drivers on to its platform, Ola is offering introductory commission rates – as low as 10% for PHV drivers and 5% for Taxis – as well as payments made daily, to help them earn more money and access it easily.
“This is an exciting moment for everyone at Ola and we are very pleased that South Wales is where we will be starting our UK journey. Over recent weeks, Ola has received positive feedback from drivers in South Wales and looks forward to providing passengers with a dynamic, new responsible service. We are determined to do a great job for the community and work closely with local authorities to help with their mobility goals,” Ben Legg, Managing Director of Ola UK said in a statement.
Ola claims that it has ensured passenger safety in UK through Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) screened drivers and processes such as 24/7 voice support, options to share ride details with emergency contacts and in-app emergency features.
Ola is working with local authorities across the UK to expand nationwide by the end of 2018 and has already obtained licences to operate in Greater Manchester.
Ola’s entry into the UK follows its successful launch in Australia in February 2018, where it now operates in seven major cities. Over 40,000 drivers across Australia have registered since its launch in February and have completed millions of rides. Ola now conducts 1 billion rides each year globally, with more than 1 million drivers and 125 million customers in over 110 cities.