Uber’s high rival in India has some unsolicited recommendation for the U.S. startup: Go native.
“They’ve a really cookie-cutter method when it comes to what the mannequin is and the way [to] power feed it into any geography,” Pranay Jivrajka, a high government at Ola Cabs, mentioned on the sidelines of CNN’s Asia Enterprise Discussion board in Bangalore.
Jivrajka, who till not too long ago served as Ola’s COO, mentioned that Uber ought to ditch its one-size-fits-all method and as a substitute attempt to perceive “native nuances” that will assist it to determine companies that “customers and drivers really need.”
Uber declined to touch upon Jivrajka’s remarks.
Uber and Ola have for years waged a bitter battle for supremacy in India, a market with 1.3 billion potential prospects. The nation has taken on elevated significance for Uber after a sequence of current setbacks elsewhere in Asia.
The San Francisco-based firm suspended its operations in Taiwan final week, six months after it offered its operations in China to native rival Didi Chuxing. Didi, which is taking the battle to Uber in key international markets, is one in every of Ola’s buyers.
In India, Uber has usually discovered itself taking part in catch-up with its Bangalore-based rival. Its most up-to-date native product providing — permitting Indian customers to e book a automobile for a whole day — is already provided by Ola in 85 cities.
Ola additionally lets customers e book one in every of India’s ubiquitous three-wheeled auto rickshaws, a service Uber began however then discontinued in 2015.
“What has helped us is having an ear to the bottom when it comes to understanding what the customers need,” mentioned Jivrajka.
Related: Uber’s rivals are teaming up in Asia
Uber CEO Travis Kalanick insists that his firm just isn’t ready to go away India.
“We’re shedding, however we see a path in direction of profitability,” Kalanick mentioned throughout a December go to to Delhi. “We see ourselves being right here in the long term.”
Related: Uber suspends its service in Taiwan as fines mount
India is not all the time a simple marketplace for both firm — tens of 1000’s of drivers representing each Uber and Ola went on strike in Delhi this week, demanding higher pay and advantages. The Delhi authorities has provided to mediate the dispute.
Jivrajka didn’t touch upon the protests, however mentioned that Ola’s primary focus stays bringing extra drivers onto its platform.
“We want extra drivers as a result of the tempo at which demand is rising is means larger than the best way provide is getting aggregated,” he mentioned.
Related: Uber CEO drops out of Trump’s business advisory council
Jivrajka additionally had some recommendation for one more Silicon Valley large hoping to enter India: electrical automaker Tesla.
“There aren’t any guidelines on the Indian roads,” Jivrajka mentioned. “One factor lots of people say is that in the event you can drive in India, you’ll be able to drive anyplace.”
— Manveena Suri contributed reporting
CNNMoney (Bangalore, India) First revealed February 13, 2017: 8:48 AM ET
