News on Medial

Related News

Vanguard values Ola at $1.25 Bn

EntrackrEntrackr · 6m ago
Vanguard values Ola at $1.25 Bn
Medial

US-based asset management company Vanguard has marked down Ola’s valuation to $1.25 billion, according to a SEC filing in the US. This represents more than an 80% drop from its peak valuation of $7.3 billion in 2021. In February 2024, Vanguard had valued the Bhavish Aggarwal-led company at less than $2 billion ($1.88 billion) for the first time. However, it later revalued the company at around $2 billion in November last year. This development comes as Ola continues its push toward a public listing, even as it loses ground in the ride-hailing space (cabs, autos, and bikes). Rapido has emerged as the market leader, followed by Uber, with Ola now relegated to third place. In August last year, CEO Bhavish Aggarwal announced that Ola Cabs would be rebranded as Ola Consumer, consolidating its financial services, cloud kitchens, and electric logistics under one umbrella. Although Ola converted into a public entity in November 2024 and has been evaluating IPO options since November last year, it has yet to make concrete moves toward a listing. Analysts suggest that Ola is likely to delay its IPO plans by at least six months, citing unfavorable market conditions—especially in light of the declining market cap and share price of Ola Electric. During FY24, Ola’s operating revenue declined by 5.5% to Rs 2,012 crore, down from Rs 2,128 crore in FY23. However, the company narrowed its losses significantly to Rs 10 crore in FY24, compared to Rs 623 crore in the previous fiscal year. The Bengaluru-based firm also turned EBITDA profitable in FY24. Meanwhile, its rival Rapido reached unicorn status last year after raising $200 million at a valuation of $1.1 billion. The Swiggy-backed company also surpassed Ola in terms of combined daily rides across bike taxis, autos, and cabs in Q2 FY25. Despite losing market share, Ola’s ride-hailing business remained more than twice the size of Uber’s and 2.5 times that of Rapido in terms of revenue. In FY24, Ola’s ride-hailing income stood at Rs 1,761 crore, compared to Uber’s Rs 807 crore from its mobility operations. Rapido reported Rs 648 crore in revenue for the same period, while managing to cut its losses by 45% to Rs 371 crore. While this valuation downgrade may not have a direct financial impact on Ola, it could weigh on internal morale—especially as the company weighs its public market debut.

Why Ola’s Path To Green Mobility Is Full Of Twists And Turns

Inc42Inc42 · 1y ago
Why Ola’s Path To Green Mobility Is Full Of Twists And Turns
Medial

Ola Cabs, a major ride-hailing company in India, has been slow to make progress in transitioning to electric mobility and has faced increased competition in the EV segment. While Ola Electric, a subsidiary of Ola Cabs, was established in 2017, the company has yet to achieve any significant milestones in its quest for an electric fleet. In contrast, competitors like Uber India and other emerging players such as BluSmart and Evera Cabs have already deployed thousands of electric vehicles. Ola's past initiatives, such as "Mission: Electric," have not come to fruition, and the company's current CEO, Hemant Bakshi, has offered limited clarity on its green mobility plans. Nevertheless, Ola aims to expand its electric vehicle offerings beyond two-wheelers to include three-wheelers, cars, and e-buses. However, Ola Electric's timeline for new products may not align with Ola Cabs' ambitions. Ola Electric plans to launch electric auto-rickshaws in the coming months, which could be integrated into Ola Cabs' fleet. The company also intends to enter the electric car market eventually but may need to partner with fleet operators and other original equipment manufacturers in the meantime. Ola's focus on scaling up its electric two-wheeler ride-hailing vertical is driven by the belief that state governments are more likely to favor two-wheelers over traditional internal combustion engines. However, Ola faces competition from established players such as Yulu and Rapido, as well as Uber's emphasis on Uber Moto. Ola still has to overcome challenges such as unit economics and profitability while catching up with existing rivals.

Download the medial app to read full posts, comements and news.