Indian ride-hailing firm Ola has expanded its UK operations further this week with its launch into London – supported by DriveTech.
Founded in India in 2010, Ola now serves more than two million drivers, 200+ million customers across 250+ cities and three continents; it says it’s the world’s third-largest ride-hailing app.
It first launched in the UK in August 2018 and has since expanded rapidly, establishing a presence across 27 local authorities in South Wales, the South West, Merseyside, West Midlands and Reading.
Its launch in London this week – which has already seen more than 25,000 drivers registered in the build-up – has been underpinned by its work with DriveTech, which is providing driver assessments and online training modules as a significant component of Ola’s drive to work to high standards and offer both drivers and riders a safe, secure and happy ride-sharing and ride-hailing service.
Each driver has completed a risk assessment and is given complimentary E-Learning modules to further accelerate their professional development. On completing these modules they will receive a DriveTech Permit to Drive, attesting to their skills. Drivers also have to complete other programmes such as an English-speaking test.
Commenting on the association with DriveTech, Simon Smith, head of Ola International, said: “Our priorities at Ola are to ensure we offer drivers and riders the highest quality and safety when travelling, which is why we selected DriveTech to support our launch in London given their reputation as market leader in safety and training. We’re really looking forward to working in close partnership going forward and seeing the positive impact DriveTech’s assessments and training have on our leading service.”
Charlie Norman, MD at DriveTech, added: “We are delighted to be working with such a driven organisation as Ola who are set to make a big impact in the London ride-hailing and ride-sharing market. We are pleased to be providing DriveTech online driver assessments and online training modules to Ola drivers as they launch in London this month.
“We’ve worked closely with the Ola team during the development and are confident that this will help them create and maintain high standards of safety, security and happiness for both their drivers and customers – goals both our organisations share.”
