BMW India and Ola Redefine the Future of On-demand Luxury Mobility in India

MUMBAI, October 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

BMW India and Ola have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to enter into a strategic association that will redefine the on-demand mobility market in India. BMW is now the 'Lux Category Partner' for Ola - India's most popular mobile technology app for transportation.

For the last 100 years, the BMW Group has been a pioneer in automotive excellence with its premium products, innovative technology and services. BMW's strength lies in defining and creating innovative trends that shape future mobility. The BMW Group's NEXT100 strategy focuses on how individual mobility will diversify in the coming future through connectivity, digitalization, technology and sustainability.

Ola successfully integrates city transportation for customers and driver partners onto a mobile technology platform. Ola 'Lux' is one-of-its-kind luxury car offering category that allows discerning customers to enjoy an unmatched premium experience. Ola customers will now be able to travel in absolute luxury and comfort in a BMW. Customers can easily book a ride in a BMW at just the tap of a button and arrive at their destination in style.

Mr. Frank Schloeder, President (act.), BMW Group India said, "At BMW, we always look to the future. Our vision enables us to identify the trends in our business early on. The way people move is changing and this is also true for the premium clientele. Individuals want quick access to mobility without compromising on quality and comfort. We are confident that this association will be a game changer in the premium on-demand mobility segment in India. BMW is the most aspirational luxury car brand and through this association, an increasing number of customers will be able to relish the immersive BMW experience."

Mr. Pranay Jivrajka, Chief Operating Officer of Ola said, "We are delighted to partner with BMW, a brand synonymous with luxury in India. Through this partnership, Ola will strengthen its presence in the luxury mobility segment; an area that we believe has tremendous potential. With the inclusion of BMW cars in Ola fleet, our customers will now have an opportunity to travel in complete luxury at the click of a button. Together with BMW, we have come up with very attractive proposals for our operators that will enable them to enter the segment with ease. BMW India is providing a 360-degree-solution to Ola cab operators, which offers easy financing, aftersales support and assured buy-back for the car thereby securing their investment. For a better customer experience, certified BMW instructors will train drivers about the versatile capabilities, technology, safety systems and features of BMW cars in detail. We look forward to growing our association with BMW and taking the Ola 'Lux' service to a greater scale throughout the country."

Through this association, BMW vehicles will be available to Ola fleet operators with an extremely attractive offer. BMW India will also offer a 360-degree-solution that takes into account both pre and post sales ownership with maximum support throughout the vehicle's lifecycle. Additionally, BMW Financial Services India will offer 100% financing for up to 4 years starting at low interest rates.

The operators will also benefit from Driver Training programs that BMW India will organize. Apart from the technical details, operators will also benefit from professional advice on how to make day-to-day driving safer. Ola and BMW will additionally explore other areas of joint collaboration to bring unique offerings to Ola's enterprise customer segment.

Aftersales service packages will further reduce the cost of ownership and ensure that their BMW is always at its best. BMW Service Inclusive Plus and BMW Repair Inclusive that are valid for up to 3 years/100,000 kilometers promise a completely hassle-free ownership experience. The transparent service package and extended warranty cover the cost for maintenance, inspection and wear-and-tear. All service work is carried out by certified technicians using original BMW parts for unmatched quality assurance.

Setting a new industry benchmark, the operators will also get an assured buy-back for the car on completion of the contract, thereby completely securing their investment.

With all the combined benefits, BMW and Ola have presented both the operators and customers with irresistible reasons to become a part of the 'Lux' category. Ola will induct the BMW cars into its fleet across three cities (Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru) and the service will later be extended to more locations.

Ola Lux is available for booking at a minimum fare of Rs. 250 and Rs. 20-22 per/km. The category also allows customers to book the cars on an hourly basis, via its Rentals feature. Features like driver details being displayed upfront, SOS buttons, Auto-Connect Wi-Fi, live tracking and seamless payment using Ola Money will continue to offer a comfortable experience to commuters.

BMW India     

Headquartered in Gurgaon (National Capital Region), BMW India is a 100% subsidiary of the BMW Group. Till date, BMW Group has invested over 4.9 billion Indian Rupees (€ 69 million) in BMW India. The wide range of BMW activities in India include a manufacturing plant in Chennai, a parts warehouse in Mumbai, a training centre in Gurgaon NCR and development of a dealer organisation across major metropolitan centres of the country. The BMW Plant Chennai locally produces the BMW 1 Series, the BMW 3 Series, the BMW 3 Series Gran Turismo, the BMW 5 Series, the BMW 7 Series, the BMW X1, the BMW X3 and the BMW X5. BMW dealerships display the BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe, the BMW X6, the BMW Z4, the BMW M3 Sedan, the BMW M4 Coupe, the BMW M5 Sedan, the BMW M6 Gran Coupe, the BMW X5 M, the BMW X6 M and the BMW i8 which are available in the country as Completely Built-up Units. Currently, BMW India has 41 sales outlets in the Indian market.

Ola     

Founded in January 2011 by IIT Bombay alumni Bhavish Aggarwal and Ankit Bhati, Ola (formerly Olacabs), is India's most popular mobile app for personal transportation. Ola integrates city transportation for customers and driver partners onto a mobile technology platform ensuring convenient, transparent and quick service fulfilment. Ola is committed to its mission of building mobility for a billion people. Using the Ola mobile app, users across 102 cities can book from over 450,000 cabs and 1,20,000 auto-rickshaws and taxis. Ola has also introduced a range of shared mobility services on its platform like Ola Shuttle and Ola Share for commute and ride-sharing respectively. The app is available on Windows, Android and iOS platforms. In early 2015, Ola acquired TaxiForSure, India's second largest cab aggregator, which continues to operate as an independent brand.

Media Contact
Abhay Dange
Director Press and Corporate Affairs at BMW Group India
[email protected]
+91-9910481013