The top rival of Uber in India, Ola Cabs, has given unsolicited advice to the U.S. startup: Adapt to local conditions.
Pranay Jivrajka, a high-ranking executive at Ola Cabs, made the statement at CNN’s Asia Business Forum in Bangalore. According to Jivrajka, Uber should abandon its standardized approach and seek to understand the specific requirements of each market in order to identify services that both users and drivers actually want.
Uber declined to comment on Jivrajka’s remarks.
Ola Cabs and Uber have been competing fiercely for dominance in the Indian market, which has an immense potential consumer base of 1.3 billion people. As Uber faced a series of hardships in other Asian markets, India has become increasingly significant for the San Francisco-based company.
After selling its operations in China to local rival Didi Chuxing six months ago, Uber has recently suspended its operations in Taiwan. Didi Chuxing, an investor in Ola Cabs, is now challenging Uber in key foreign markets.
In India, Uber has often struggled to catch up with its Bangalore-based rival. Ola Cabs has already been offering its Indian users the option to book a car for an entire day in 85 cities, a service that Uber only recently introduced. Additionally, Ola Cabs allows users to book auto rickshaws, a service that Uber started but then discontinued in 2015.
Jivrajka stated, “What has helped us is having an ear to the ground in terms of understanding what the users want.”
Related: Uber’s rivals are teaming up in Asia
Despite facing challenges, Uber CEO Travis Kalanick is determined to remain in India.
“We are losing, but we see a path towards profitability,” Kalanick said during a visit to Delhi in December. “We see ourselves being here in the long run.”
Related: Uber suspends its service in Taiwan as fines mount
However, both Uber and Ola Cabs have encountered difficulties in the Indian market. Thousands of drivers from both companies recently went on strike in Delhi, demanding better pay and benefits. The Delhi government has offered to mediate the dispute.
Jivrajka did not comment on the protests, but he emphasized that Ola Cabs’ primary focus is to attract more drivers to its platform.
“We need more drivers because the demand is growing much faster than the supply,” he said.
Related: Uber CEO drops out of Trump’s business advisory council
Jivrajka also offered advice to another Silicon Valley giant planning to enter India: electric automaker Tesla.
“There are no rules on the Indian roads,” Jivrajka said. “Many people claim that if you can drive in India, you can drive anywhere.”
— Manveena Suri contributed reporting
CNNMoney (Bangalore, India) First published February 13, 2017: 8:48 AM ET
