Ola Electric to Expand Sales and Service Network; Targets 10,000 Partners by 2025

India's Ola Electric Mobility is bolstering its sales and services operations and plans to add 10,000 partners by the end of 2025, the company said on Thursday, as it looks to strengthen its network after facing heat over unsatisfactory servicing. The e-scooter maker has added 625 sales partners so far under the program. The new sales and service partners will retail and maintain Ola's electric vehicles in addition to other companies' brands, but will employ Ola's technicians and support staff.

Ola Electric has come under fire over its post-sale service, including a recent case where a man was arrested for allegedly setting fire to an Ola showroom over unsatisfactory servicing.

Several mechanics have said Ola's service centres are facing significant backlog and having difficulty in dealing with the volume of complaints. Ola Electric currently has nearly 800 company-owned stores and 431 service centres as of March 31, according to its website.

The company said it aims to have 1,800 sales and service centres, including company-owned stores and network partners, ahead of the festive season, which usually begins in September.

The festive season includes occasions such as Navaratri and Diwali, when Indians typically tend to make big-ticket purchases such as scooters.

"While the company-owned stores will be the anchors of our sales and service network, this program will be instrumental in expanding the EV footprint deeper into the urban and rural markets," Bhavish Aggarwal, Ola's chairman and managing director, said in a statement.