Ola Electric is delaying the delivery of its new S1 Z and Gig models. The reason cited is that its current focus is on the Roadster electric bike platform, alongside efforts to improve cost structure and sales across its network.
- S1 Z and Gig are the most affordable Ola models
- Roadster electric bike is the company’s focus right now
- Deliveries have been pushed to an as yet unspecified date
Ola S1 Z and Gig models delayed
Company is focusing on deliveries of its electric bike and operational efficiency
“We are delaying the S1 Z, Gig/Gig+ and some other future products and will sequentially launch these products such that each product receives the right customer mindshare,” Ola Electric founder, Chairman and MD Bhavish Aggarwal told investors.
In November last year, Ola announced the launch of its first B2B-oriented electric scooter Gig in two variants in the price range of Rs 39,999-49,999. It also announced the S1 Z at Rs 59,999, targeting budget-conscious urban commuters. Deliveries of both these models were slated to start in April and May of this year, respectively, but now have been pushed to a later (as yet unspecified) date.
“Our focus right now is the Roadster platform, which is Roadster X, X Plus, and then the Roadster itself, Roadster and Arrowhead. The Gig, Gig Plus, Z, as well as the three-wheeler platforms will be a little later,” Aggarwal said.
There has been a delay in the start of deliveries of the Roadster motorcycle as well. Initially, deliveries of Ola’s first electric bike were slated to begin in March, which were first postponed to April, and then finally commenced just a few days ago, on May 21.
Ola Electric has been witnessing increasing pressure on its market share amid strong competition from traditional two-wheeler makers including Bajaj Auto and TVS Motor. The automaker saw its volumes drop in all the four quarters of FY25 on a sequential basis, and has lost its number one spot in the recent months.
Ola Electric has been focusing on expanding its stores and service infrastructure over the last couple of quarters amid operational challenges in services and registrations, while improving efficiencies. The company has now expanded to about 4,000 stores in total, and claims it has brought down the service turnaround times down to 1.1 days.
“Our focus now is to increase productivity, sales productivity as well as sales per store of these stores that we have opened up. That is the focus for this quarter, as well as for the next couple of quarters. And this becomes increasingly relevant with our bike [Roadster] coming into the markets,” Aggarwal said.
Rishaad Mody
Azaman Chothia
Vishal Venugopal
