Nagpur, May 2017 – Ola and Mahindra have partnered with the Government of India in a first-of-its-kind programme to build an electric mass mobility ecosystem in Nagpur which will bring about a transformational change in the automotive and transportation landscape in the country. Shri Devendra Fadnavis, Hon'ble Chief Minister, Government of Maharashtra and Shri Nitin Gadkari, Hon'ble Minister of Road Transport, Highways & Shipping, Government of India inaugurated India's first multi-modal electric vehicle project at the Nagpur Airport Complex today.

This unique project will bring vehicles across different segments, including e-buses, e-cabs, e-rickshaws and e-autos together on a single platform, the Ola app, enabling citizens of Nagpur to book these vehicles for their transportation needs. This pilot project will commence with a 200-strong fleet, including 100 of Mahindra’s new e2o Plus vehicles. The rest of the fleet will consist of vehicles sources from other OEMs including Tata Motors, Kinetic, BYD, TVS amongst others.

Shri Devendra Fadnavis and Shri Nitin Gadkari flagged off this all-electric fleet from the Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport in the presence of key dignitaries – Shri Diwakar Rawat, (Transport Minister, Government of Maharashtra), Mr. Abhay Damle (Joint Secretary, MoRTH), Mr. Manoj Saunik (Principal Secretary, Transport Government of Maharashtra), Shri Satish Sahastrabuddhe, (Additional Commissioner, Transportation, Government of Maharashtra) and thousands of citizens. This was followed by the unveiling of Ola's electric charging station, situated within the airport complex. This unique installation is the first of its kind and will power the fleet. Ola has already invested upward of INR 50 cr towards EVs and charging infrastructure, starting with 50+ charging points across 4 strategic locations in the city of Nagpur. With a clear focus to build a full fledged ecosystem around sustainable mobility, Ola will also invest in training and educating driver partners on maintenance and use of in-car technology along with its key OEM partners like Mahindra.

Speaking on the occasion, the Hon'ble Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Shri Devendra Fadnavis said, "The state of Maharashtra is geared towards driving positive change for collective improvement of the society we live in, and we welcome and encourage such initiatives. We are extremely proud of the commitment corporations like Ola, Mahindra and others are working towards building sustainable transportation for all. In support of this initiative, we have waived off VAT, road tax, and registration for all electric vehicles in the state, and we look forward to building Maharashtra as a model state for others to emulate in the future."

Electric vehicles will play a major role in reducing urban pollution plaguing several Indian cities and resulting in health hazards. With increased penetration of EVs and eventual 100 per cent transition, the country and its citizens stand to benefit tremendously.