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The public spat between Ola CEO Bhavish Aggarwal and comedian Kunal Kamra on X, formerly Twitter, exemplifies the growing tensions between a struggling EV company and its dissatisfied customers. The conflict ignited after Kamra, known for his outspoken criticism of corporate entities, posted an image depicting a crowded Ola service center, questioning the company's customer service capabilities. This prompted a wave of responses from users echoing similar concerns about Ola's service performance.
Aggarwal, in a bid to defend his company, accused Kamra of posting a 'paid tweet' and invited him to actively help solve the issues. He even offered to pay Kamra more than his 'failed comedy career' if he contributed to resolving the backlogs. This aggressive and seemingly personal attack further inflamed the situation, prompting Kamra to challenge Aggarwal's claims and publicly defend his stance. He also pointed out Ola's responsibility towards its customers, who rely on the scooters for their daily commute.
The heated exchange highlights a critical moment for Ola Electric, which is facing declining sales and persistent customer complaints regarding malfunctioning hardware and software issues in its flagship S1 series. The company saw its lowest monthly sales in September, marking a continued decline in market share, and the public criticism from Kamra, a prominent public figure, further amplified these challenges. This incident exposes the fragility of Ola's position as a dominant player in the Indian EV market, exposing its vulnerability to public scrutiny and the growing dissatisfaction of its customers.