An Indian CEO faced a public backlash on social media after a comedian highlighted safety concerns with his company’s electric scooters, which have been linked to fires and battery explosions. Bhavish Aggarwal, the founder of Ola Electric, got into a heated exchange with comedian Kunal Kamra, who shared a picture of abandoned Ola scooters outside a dealership, questioning the safety of the vehicles. The criticism quickly escalated into a public feud, with Aggarwal responding to Kamra’s tweets with increasingly aggressive comments.
Ola’s electric scooters have been under intense scrutiny due to reports of overheating and battery fires, raising alarms in India’s electric vehicle market. What started as a simple critique turned into a social media showdown, as Aggarwal and Kamra exchanged barbs over the safety of the scooters. Aggarwal even challenged Kamra to work at an Ola service centre to understand the issues better, sparking further debate online.
Despite the comedian’s persistent questioning about safety concerns and calls for total refunds for dissatisfied customers, Aggarwal stood firm on the company’s position. While Kamra’s supporters rallied behind him, criticising Aggarwal for his responses, the CEO defended Ola’s efforts to address service delays and expand its network.
The online spat shed light on the growing number of complaints about Ola’s electric scooters, with incidents such as a customer attempting to set an Ola showroom on fire and a scooter catching fire in a college parking area adding to the mounting criticism. Ola Electric attributed the incidents to aftermarket parts causing a short circuit, asserting that their investigations confirmed the battery’s integrity.
As the public feud between Aggarwal and Kamra played out on social media, it reignited concerns about the safety and quality of Ola’s electric scooters. The exchange highlighted the importance of addressing customer complaints and ensuring the safety of electric vehicles in India’s evolving market landscape.