A wave of frustration ignited into flames at an Ola Electric showroom in Kalaburagi, Karnataka. Mohammad Nadeem, a 26-year-old mechanic, allegedly set fire to the showroom after experiencing dissatisfaction with the service of his recently purchased e-scooter. Nadeem’s anger, according to police reports, stemmed from repeated attempts to resolve issues with his two-wheeler, which he purchased just a month prior. Despite multiple visits to the showroom, his concerns were reportedly met with neglect and inaction from the outlet staff.
On Tuesday, Nadeem, fueled by frustration, brought petrol to the showroom and ignited six bikes, causing significant damage estimated at over ₹ 8 lakh. Fortunately, firefighters responded swiftly to the incident, extinguishing the flames and preventing any injuries. Videos of the incident, showing smoke billowing from the showroom, quickly spread across social media platforms.
This incident is not the first of its kind involving Ola Electric showrooms. In August, a fire broke out at an Ola Electric showroom in Indore, damaging a dozen vehicles. The fire prompted authorities to evacuate nearly 2,500 people, including students attending coaching classes.
Undeterred by these incidents, Ola Electric continues to expand its offerings. The company has recently ventured into the electric motorcycle segment, unveiling three models with two more in the pipeline. The Roadster range, encompassing the Roaster X, Roadster, and Roadster Pro, comes with price tags starting at ₹ 74,999, ₹ 1,04,999, and ₹ 1,99,999 respectively. Deliveries for these models are slated to begin in Q4FY25 onwards, with the Roadster Pro deliveries commencing in Q4FY26.
Ola Founder Bhavish Aggarwal, addressing the company’s annual launch event, Sankalp 2024, highlighted the dominance of motorcycles in India’s two-wheeler market, emphasizing the importance of Ola’s entry into this segment. The company’s foray into the electric motorcycle market, however, has been marred by recent incidents like the showroom fire in Kalaburagi, raising concerns about customer service and safety protocols. It remains to be seen how Ola Electric will address these issues and navigate its path to success in the burgeoning electric vehicle market.
