Ola makes e-mopeds for NZ

Rideshare platform Ola has moved into manufacturing, bringing electric mopeds (scooters) to New Zealand next year. 

The introduction of Ola’s electric scooters will help support New Zealand’s goal of 64,000 EVs on the road by the end of 2021, while also helping the public sector become carbon neutral by 2025.

The scooters are part of Ola’s e-mobility business established to design and manufacture high quality electric two wheelers which consumers can own.

It is a key part of Ola’s move towards offering sustainable mobility solutions across shared and owned mobility.

Ola is in the advanced stages of setting up the world’s largest scooter factory in India to manufacture more than two million scooters annually.

The electric scooter, due to launch across several markets, has won several design and innovation awards, including at Consumer Electronic Show (CES) and the German Design Awards.

Ola will continue adding design and software innovations to its two-wheelers.

“We are excited about bringing our electric two wheelers to New Zealand to further accelerate development of sustainable solutions,” Ola chairman and group chief executive Bhavish Agarwal says.

“Climate change is a serious challenge and Ola is committed to moving the world to sustainable mobility through our products.”

Ola New Zealand managing director Brian Dewil says the government’s climate emergency announcement puts more responsibility on transport providers to step up.

“We’ve witnessed strong and steady growth in the e-scooter and e-bike sector, so we believe Ola’s new scooter product will be welcomed by consumers as a way to contribute towards establishing a zero-carbon economy.”

Earlier, Ola announced plans to hire 2000 people as it rapidly builds a suite of electric and smart urban mobility solutions for consumers around the world.

Ola Electric has raised about US$400 million in funding from Tiger Global, Matrix India, Tata Sons chairman emeritus Ratan Tata and others.