Key highlights
- Ola Electric caught by the Maharashtra government for fraud
- 83% showrooms did not have a valid trade certificate
- 75 showrooms shut down across the state
Ola Electric is yet again in the national news, and not for a good reason. This time, the Bengaluru-based EV manufacturer has been found operating illegally in the state of Maharashtra. Read more details below.
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75 Ola showrooms shut down, 192 scooters siezed
As per a report published online, the EV maker was found to be operating in Maharashtra without valid trade certificates through various showrooms. This was found during the audit conducted by the Maharashtra RTO in March.
The details published in the report show that a total of 146 showrooms have been inspected by the Maharashtra RTO till April 16, 2025. 121 showrooms out of the 146 inspected are found to be operating without a valid trade certificate.
In fact, few showrooms are reported to be working under a common trade certificate, which was being shared by the other showrooms as well. Additionally, the Maharashtra RTO has continued the inspection of the remaining showrooms in the state.
As per Rule 35 of the Central Motor Vehicle Rules, 1989, every individual establishment, showroom, or dealership that is involved in selling vehicles must obtain a valid trade certificate from the concerned registration authority.
Now this is a big hit to the EV brand, as it was earlier found to be faking its sales numbers in February 2025. The subsequent follow-up of the showroom shutdown will hit the brand financially, especially in the stock market.
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Our conclusion
From day one, Ola has been fooling its customers with fake service centres and promises to rectify the repeated breakdown problems. However, there has been no valid action from the brand. In spite, Bhavish Aggrawal has been involved in social media scuffles with comedians, which is disheartening for customers.