More Trouble for Ola! Pune RTO Seizes 36 Ola Electric Scooters in Crackdown on Stores

The Pune Regional Transport Office (RTO) has intensified its crackdown on Ola Electric, seizing 36 e-scooters from stores in the city following similar action in Mumbai.

The operation, conducted late Wednesday, targeted 26 Ola Electric outlets across Mumbai and Pune to verify compliance with trade certificate regulations under India’s Motor Vehicles Act. The seizures come amid growing scrutiny of the Bengaluru-based electric vehicle maker, led by founder Bhavish Aggarwal, for alleged regulatory violations.

The Maharashtra Transport Department acted on a complaint from Pritpal Singh & Associates, Gurugram, alleging that Ola Electric operates showrooms and service centers with a single trade certificate, flouting norms requiring individual certification for each location. Deputy Transport Commissioner Ravi Gaekwad’s inspection report, prompted by Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik’s directive, confirmed the confiscation of 36 scooters after inspections by five RTO teams—four in Mumbai and one in Pune. The report, written in Marathi, highlights the company’s failure to secure necessary permits for displaying, selling, or transporting unregistered vehicles.

Ola Electric, once India’s leading e-scooter manufacturer, has faced mounting challenges since its August listing, with shares dropping over 60% from their peak. The crackdown follows reports of customer dissatisfaction, unregistered vehicle sales, and a Bloomberg investigation revealing that over 95% of Ola’s 3,400 surveyed showrooms lack trade certificates. As the company battles regulatory hurdles and reputational damage, the Pune seizures signal a broader push to enforce compliance, potentially reshaping Ola’s ambitious expansion in Maharashtra’s EV market.