The Maharashtra government has directed regional transport offices (RTOs) to shut down any Ola Electric stores operating without valid trade certificates, intensifying its regulatory scrutiny of the EV company. According to an email dated April 16, 2025, from the Joint Transport Commissioner, RTOs were instructed to take immediate action, including revoking original trade certificates, and to report closures within a day.
Responding to the development, an Ola Electric spokesperson told NDTV Profit that the claims about their Maharashtra outlets were “speculative, incorrect, and misplaced,” and that the company is cooperating with authorities to resolve any concerns.
Under Section 39 of the Central Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 and Rules 33 and 35 of the Central Motor Vehicle Rules, 1989, vehicle sellers are required to have a separate trade certificate for each showroom or sales outlet to legally operate and register vehicles.
The issue surfaced in early March, when RTO inspections in Mumbai and Pune revealed that many Ola Electric experience centres were operating without proper trade certification or were sharing certificates—prompting a formal notice on March 31 from the transport department. Ola Electric responded that it is in the process of securing the necessary trade certificates for all its locations across Maharashtra.
As of now, 146 Ola Electric stores have been inspected by RTOs in the state, with 121 found non-compliant, and 75 already shut down. Additionally, 192 scooters have been seized since the inspections began.
Despite the regulatory pressure, Ola Electric’s shares rose 5.25% on Monday to ₹52.88 on the BSE, outperforming the Sensex, which closed 1.09% higher at 79,408.50.
