A heated exchange unfolded between Ola Electric's founder Bhavish Aggarwal and comedian Kunal Kamra on the social media platform X, primarily over the after-sales service of Ola's electric scooters. The debate began when Kamra criticized Ola for the condition of its scooters awaiting servicing, accusing the company of negligence. In response, Aggarwal delivered a sharp retort, which escalated into a public spat. Kamra further questioned Ola's commitment to its customers, while Aggarwal defended the company's service efforts. The dispute highlighted growing concerns about Ola's service quality among its consumers.
The incident began when Kunal Kamra, a popular comedian, responded to a post shared by Bhavish Aggarwal on X, showcasing Ola's gigafactory. Kamra shared a contrasting image of Ola electric scooters parked together, awaiting servicing, and questioned the company's after-sales service standards. He emphasized the plight of Indian consumers, particularly daily wage workers, who rely on two-wheelers for their livelihood. Kamra directed his concerns to the Indian government and the Department of Consumer Affairs, asking if this is how the nation's electric vehicle (EV) transition would unfold.
Bhavish Aggarwal, CEO of Ola Electric, didn't hold back in his response. Taking a direct jab at Kamra, Aggarwal mockingly offered Kamra a job at Ola, insinuating that he would be paid more than Kamra's earnings from his "failed comedy career." In a pointed retort, Aggarwal emphasized that the company was working diligently to resolve service-related issues and expand its service network to clear any existing backlogs. His response, however, did little to cool the situation and only escalated the war of words.
Unfazed by Aggarwal's remarks, Kamra responded by posting a video clip from one of his successful comedy shows, directly countering Aggarwal's jab at his career. Kamra labeled Aggarwal as "arrogant and substandard," doubling down on his criticism of Ola's service issues. He also threw a public challenge, asking the company to offer full refunds to any customer who wished to return their Ola EV purchased within the last four months. Kamra stressed that while he didn't need money, customers facing service delays needed accountability.
In response to Kamra's refund challenge, Aggarwal remained defiant. He asserted that Ola already had sufficient programs in place to address customer concerns, particularly for those facing delays in service. He accused Kamra of being an armchair critic and reiterated that Ola was making substantial efforts to improve its service network. Aggarwal dismissed Kamra's attacks as misinformed, suggesting that if Kamra were a genuine customer, he would have a better understanding of the company's customer support initiatives.
The public spat between Kamra and Aggarwal soon drew in a large number of Ola Electric consumers, many of whom voiced their own grievances regarding Ola's after-sales service. The online discussion turned into a platform for customers to air complaints about delayed servicing and inadequate support. This wave of criticism further intensified the debate, highlighting the growing dissatisfaction among Ola's user base and underscoring the urgent need for the company to address these service shortcomings comprehensively.