India’s Ola Enters Competitive Australian Ground Transport Market
Photo Credit: Uber and Australia’s taxi sector are under attack from new entrants. Uber
Skift Take
India’s Ola has started operations in two major Australian cities, following hot on the heels of Estonia’s Taxify. The newcomers are exploiting opportunities unlocked when Uber paved the way for increased competition in a market in the tight grip of taxi operators.
Australia’s taxi industry is facing another competitor, with India’s Ola ridesharing company starting operations in Sydney and Perth with plans to expand into Melbourne.
Wolf Aron, Ola head of operations in Australia, told Skift the Indian company saw “a real opportunity in Australia to provide a credible alternative in the rideshare space for both customers and drivers.”
Ola was attracted to Australia’s “supportive regulatory environment coupled with a market that is extremely welcoming to new players," Aron said, "and we firmly believe that there’s immense scope to scale up the existing ridesharing ecosystem, especially with respect to building high-quality travel experience through technology, innovation and collaboration.”
Ola has signed up 7,000 drivers around the country and continues to lure drivers away from its rivals, Uber and traditional cabs, as well as attract fresh recruits.
Ola has entered a rideshare market dominated by Uber, which has been o
