India’s expanding electric cab business runs into severe vehicle crunch

This article was originally published in Rest of World, which covers technology’s impact outside the West.

Rahul Mathur has sworn by BluSmart since its early days. The electric-taxi rideshare company was his preferred choice for the daily commute as a startup founder in Delhi two years ago, and it’s his top pick as an investor who closely follows the ride-hailing industry now. So much so that he is now a Prive member – part of an exclusive, invite-only group of BluSmart loyalists.

Recently, though, it’s been harder for Mathur to get rides.

“Despite being a BluSmart Prive member, which is the top tier, I still have some slots where I cannot find a pre-scheduled cab,” he told Rest of World.

In India, electric cab companies such as BluSmart are carving out a growing share of the ride-hailing market from the longstanding industry duopoly of Ola and Uber. BluSmart’s fully electric fleet appeals to environmentally conscious users as well as those drawn in by convenience: the app guarantees no canceled rides and no surge pricing. BluSmart cars are clean and well-maintained, with bottles of water and mints on offer. This has gained BluSmart a loyal customer base in New Delhi and Bengaluru, known as India’s Silicon Valley. The company plans to expand to Mumbai, the...

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