Ola Electric Mobility, a leading name in India’s EV revolution, is grappling with a major customer crisis in Goa. Over 2,000 Ola scooters remain stuck at service centres statewide, with frustrated owners demanding the company halt new vehicle sales until their service and repair complaints—some pending for months—are fully resolved. The issue intensified when aggrieved customers submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, seeking government intervention to compel Ola Electric to address unresolved after-sales issues before selling new vehicles. Sawant has promised a review, indicating possible state-led mediation on the matter.
Wave of Customer Grievances and Poor After-Sales Service
The service crisis reflects deeper, long-standing concerns. Ola Electric’s service centres have been plagued with complaints: lack of spare parts, understaffed locations, and poor communication with customers, often leading to weeks- or months-long delays. Stories like customers waiting hours on helplines, bikes sitting unexamined at centres, and staff reporting uncertainty about basic repairs abound. The backlog has disrupted daily mobility for hundreds, fueling public outrage and eroding consumer trust in the brand.
Retailers in other states have reported similar shutdowns, sometimes forcing users to travel over 300 kilometers for assistance, further amplifying dissatisfaction.
In response to mounting complaints, the central government ordered an audit of Ola’s service centres in October 2024, acknowledging the severity and scale of consumer grievances nationwide.
Financial, Brand, and Regulatory Fallout
These challenges have already impacted Ola Electric’s sales performance. In August 2024, the company reported a 34% monthly sales dip, with market share tumbling from 39% to 31%. The barrage of complaints and negative publicity is now threatening Ola’s brand image, potentially jeopardizing expansion plans in high-growth regions where EV adoption is surging.
Additionally, in October 2024, over 10,000 unresolved complaints led to a government show-cause notice; earlier incidents saw customer showrooms set on fire in protest, after-sale promises unmet, and massive service backlogs. Multiple consumer courts feature allegations of “inadequate service and unprofessional conduct,” damaging the company’s reputation.
Employee Tragedy and Allegations Against CEO
Ola Electric’s troubles were compounded in late September 2025 after a suicide by K. Aravind, an engineer working at Ola Electric’s Bengaluru office. In a detailed, widely reported 28-page note, Aravind accused CEO Bhavish Aggarwal and senior executives of harassment, humiliation, workload pressure, salary denial, and deliberate professional harm. The engineer’s family filed a legal complaint, leading Bengaluru police to register an FIR against Aggarwal and the head of vehicle homologations, Subrat Kumar Dash, for alleged abetment to suicide.
Family members also alleged a posthumous ₹17 lakh transfer from Ola to Aravind’s account was a cover-up for unpaid dues. The tragedy reignited national debate on workplace harassment and mental health, drawing further scrutiny to Ola Electric’s internal practices.
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The Road Ahead: Can Ola Electric Restore Trust?
With over 80,000 complaints reported monthly, government-mandated audits, and high-profile controversies, Ola Electric faces a pivotal moment. Its ability to resolve service delays, strengthen after-sales support, and address internal culture could define its longer-term success. For now, the Goa crisis, tragic employee loss, and viral criticism have turned Ola Electric’s bid to lead India’s EV sector into a lesson for the entire industry: innovation alone cannot substitute for responsible operations, customer care, and ethical leadership.
