A 26-year-old man was arrested in Karnataka for allegedly setting fire to an Ola Electric showroom following dissatisfaction with the servicing of his e-scooter. The incident has raised concerns about Ola Electric’s service quality, highlighting ongoing complaints from customers about delays and unresolved issues at their service stations.
Angry #Ola customer sets #fire to electric scooter showroom in #Kalaburagi in North #Karnataka.
— TOI Bengaluru (@TOIBengaluru) September 11, 2024
Mohammed Nadeem was frustrated with the new bike as it developed snags frequently. The showroom staff did not respond properly despite multiple appeals, he told cops. pic.twitter.com/EE3ahF1lSc
Dissatisfaction Leads to Showroom Fire
The incident took place on Tuesday when Mohammad Nadeem, a mechanic by profession, reportedly set fire to six e-scooters at the Ola Electric showroom in Kalaburagi, Karnataka. Nadeem had purchased an Ola scooter 20 days earlier, but soon encountered problems with the vehicle. After several unsuccessful attempts to resolve the issues through the service center, he took drastic action. According to Kalaburagi’s police commissioner, Nadeem “went multiple times” to the showroom but was unsatisfied with their response.
Nadeem reportedly brought petrol to the showroom and set fire to six vehicles, causing damage estimated at Rs 850,000. Fortunately, no injuries were reported, but the incident has sparked concerns over the rising dissatisfaction among Ola Electric customers.
Growing Concerns About Ola Electric’s Service Quality
Ola Electric has faced increasing scrutiny over the quality of its after-sales service. Reports of significant backlogs at service centers and delays in addressing customer complaints have created a negative sentiment among some e-scooter owners. While Ola operates 431 service stations across India, many users have expressed dissatisfaction with long waiting times for repairs and subpar customer support.
This is not the first incident related to fire at an Ola showroom. Two weeks prior, a fire broke out at an Ola Electric showroom in Indore, Madhya Pradesh. While the cause of the Indore fire is unclear, these back-to-back incidents have added to the company’s woes.
Ola Electric’s Response
Ola Electric has not yet officially commented on the Kalaburagi incident. However, with the company recently being listed on the stock exchanges, these service-related controversies could impact its reputation and market performance. The company will need to address these concerns to restore customer confidence.
The Kalaburagi showroom fire further emphasizes the need for Ola Electric to enhance its service infrastructure and focus on customer satisfaction to maintain its leading position in the Indian e-scooter market.
