Ola Electric has officially launched its in-house Ola Maps alongside the mass rollout of the Move OS 4 software platform for its electric two-wheelers. Move OS 4 represents the latest iteration of Ola Electric’s software platform for its e-scooters. The company highlighted that Move OS 4 has significantly enhanced navigation capabilities with the integration of Ola Maps. The updated software offers a faster and more accurate search function along with improved routing. Additionally, it features a redesigned user interface that allows riders to access essential features seamlessly without leaving the navigation screen.
Ola Electric stated that Ola Maps provides users with the ability to designate favorite locations for a highly personalized navigation experience. Moreover, users can push locations from their phones to the scooter through Bluetooth and even locate their scooter from the Ola Electric app.
The commercial debut of Ola Maps on Ola EVs marks a significant milestone, coming a year after Ola announced the development of a dedicated maps system for its vehicles and apps. Bhavish Aggarwal, CEO of Ola, had previously mentioned the testing of their own Ola maps, indicating their plans to integrate the system into the Ola app and vehicles in the near future.
By introducing an in-house navigation system, Ola Electric aims to continuously enhance the mapping and navigation experience based on feedback from EV users. The Move OS 4 update will bring more than 100 features and improvements to the Ola S1 Gen 1 scooter portfolio, S1 Pro (2nd Generation), and S1 Air, with the S1 X+ set to receive the upgrade in the coming months.
In addition to Ola Maps, Move OS 4 includes enhancements such as improvements to ‘Hill Descent Control’ and the introduction of ‘Cruise Control in eco-mode’. The company also highlighted its AI-based ‘Indicator Control’, which automatically turns off indicators, minimizing the need for manual commands.
Despite facing criticism and controversies related to safety issues, after-sales service, and alleged pricing discrepancies, Ola Electric emerged as the leading two-wheeler EV player in terms of sales in 2023. The startup filed its Draft Red Herring Prospectus (DRHP) with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) last month for an IPO worth over INR 5,500 crores. Additionally, it recently obtained the domestic value addition (DVA) certificate under the production linked incentive (PLI) scheme for automobile and auto components, becoming the first Indian two-wheeler manufacturer to do so.
However, Ola Electric remains a loss-making entity, reporting a net loss of INR 268 crores in Q1 FY24, with its net loss surging by 88% year-on-year to INR 1,471.6 crores in FY23.
