Is Ola inflating numbers or just misunderstood? Here’s everything you need to know.
Ola Electric has been making headlines in India—but not always for the right reasons. From poor after-sales service to mass layoffs and vehicle seizures, the brand has faced its fair share of controversies. Now, it’s under the scanner again, this time by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), and the issue is about Ola’s February 2025 EV sales figures.
Let’s break down what’s going on in simple terms and see whether Ola Electric can navigate this new storm or not.
🔍 What’s the Latest Ola Electric Controversy About?
In February 2025, Ola Electric claimed it had sold over 25,000 units of its electric scooters and bikes—including the Ola S1 Pro Gen 3 and the upcoming Ola Roadster X. But here’s where things got tricky: most of those vehicles weren’t even registered yet.
According to Indian government norms, a vehicle sale is officially counted only after it’s registered with the authorities. But Ola seems to have counted full bookings and confirmed payments as “sales”, even though deliveries hadn’t started for many units—especially the Ola Roadster X, which is yet to hit the roads.
The government’s Vahan portal only showed 8,600 registered vehicles sold in February, which raised eyebrows since Ola had claimed over 25,000 sales. That’s a huge gap! 🚨
💬 Ola’s Explanation – Misunderstanding or Misleading?
Ola said the numbers were based on fully paid bookings and that revenue is recognized only after registration and delivery. But this raises a big question—why show inflated sales data in the first place?
The Transport Ministry has asked Ola to revise its numbers to reflect only actual registrations or invoiced vehicles. As of now, there is no official fraud case against Ola, but the government is still investigating whether any laws were broken or whether the numbers were deliberately hyped up to influence public perception or investor interest.
Also, it’s worth noting that Ola did not count “confirmed bookings” as sales in the months before or after February. So why now?
🤔 Why Does This Matter for Indian EV Buyers?
For those planning to buy an electric scooter in India or looking at Ola Electric scooters, this situation is a reminder to always do your research. Ola has created buzz with its stylish scooters, aggressive pricing, and online-only buying experience, but controversies like these can shake consumer confidence.
If you’re comparing Ola S1 Pro Gen 3 vs Ather 450X or Simple One vs TVS iQube, make sure to consider not just specs and price but also after-sales service, transparency, and brand trust.
🔧 Ola Electric Still a Strong Player, But Needs Course Correction
Despite these issues, Ola Electric continues to be one of India’s top EV scooter brands. It has ambitious plans, from building the world’s largest EV hub to launching electric motorcycles. However, for long-term success, building customer trust and being transparent will be key.
