Ola Electric Mobility Pvt., the Indian startup that’s pledged to build the world’s biggest electric scooter factory, doled out a handful of brightly-hued bikes earlier this month, complete with drummers and a saxophonist to mark the occasion. Founder Bhavish Aggarwal came to thank some 100 customers who brought along family and friends.
But beyond the colorful proceedings, Ola isn’t living up to its lofty ambitions. Mass production of its e-scooters is likely to be pushed back until at least January, according to people familiar with its operations, who asked not to be identified because the information isn’t public.
The Bengaluru-based unicorn, which has already delayed initial deliveries to mid-December from October, is pledging to fulfill rest of the orders by February. But people familiar said Ola, which counts heavyweights SoftBank Group Corp. and Tiger Global Management LLC as backers, is struggling to iron out manufacturing wrinkles and is able to make only as many as 150 units a day — a slow pace if it has to deliver on time the 90,000 orders Aggarwal said it had…
But beyond the colorful proceedings, Ola isn’t living up to its lofty ambitions. Mass production of its e-scooters is likely to be pushed back until at least January, according to people familiar with its operations, who asked not to be identified because the information isn’t public.
The Bengaluru-based unicorn, which has already delayed initial deliveries to mid-December from October, is pledging to fulfill rest of the orders by February. But people familiar said Ola, which counts heavyweights SoftBank Group Corp. and Tiger Global Management LLC as backers, is struggling to iron out manufacturing wrinkles and is able to make only as many as 150 units a day — a slow pace if it has to deliver on time the 90,000 orders Aggarwal said it had…
