EV ride-hailer BluSmart seeks $300 million for Delhi expanision
29 May 2024
2 Min Read
CW Team
BluSmart, India?s leading electric cab operator aims to secure over $300 million in the next three years to expand its car fleet significantly, challenging giants like Uber Technologies Inc. in the rapidly growing market. The company plans to boost its fleet of electric vehicles in India, supplied by various manufacturers, to 13,000 by March from the current 7,500, with a long-term goal of reaching 25,000 cars within the same period.
Part of the funding will facilitate BluSmart's expansion beyond Delhi and Bengaluru, targeting Dubai as its next market. The company intends to launch with approximately 100 Audi EVs, aiming to operate 300 Audi and Tesla Inc. vehicles in Dubai by December, according to Punit Goyal, Co-founder, BP Ventures-backed startup.
While Uber and Ola dominate India?s ride-sharing market, BluSmart sees an opportunity to provide a superior customer experience by exclusively leasing its fleet, distinguishing itself from competitors whose drivers often own their vehicles. The company emphasises quality over low pricing, anticipating that customers in major cities will value the enhanced service.
BluSmart's commitment to an all-electric fleet aligns with broader efforts to combat air pollution in urban centres. Despite the competition's initiatives toward electrification, BluSmart remains focused on its green mission, leveraging its $200 million equity and long-term growth debt to secure an additional $25 million in funding, expected to close by late June.
While Dubai presents an exciting opportunity, India remains BluSmart's primary focus due to its vast population density around cities like Delhi, offering immense growth potential.
(ET Infra)
BluSmart, India?s leading electric cab operator aims to secure over $300 million in the next three years to expand its car fleet significantly, challenging giants like Uber Technologies Inc. in the rapidly growing market. The company plans to boost its fleet of electric vehicles in India, supplied by various manufacturers, to 13,000 by March from the current 7,500, with a long-term goal of reaching 25,000 cars within the same period.
Part of the funding will facilitate BluSmart's expansion beyond Delhi and Bengaluru, targeting Dubai as its next market. The company intends to launch with approximately 100 Audi EVs, aiming to operate 300 Audi and Tesla Inc. vehicles in Dubai by December, according to Punit Goyal, Co-founder, BP Ventures-backed startup.
While Uber and Ola dominate India?s ride-sharing market, BluSmart sees an opportunity to provide a superior customer experience by exclusively leasing its fleet, distinguishing itself from competitors whose drivers often own their vehicles. The company emphasises quality over low pricing, anticipating that customers in major cities will value the enhanced service.
BluSmart's commitment to an all-electric fleet aligns with broader efforts to combat air pollution in urban centres. Despite the competition's initiatives toward electrification, BluSmart remains focused on its green mission, leveraging its $200 million equity and long-term growth debt to secure an additional $25 million in funding, expected to close by late June.
While Dubai presents an exciting opportunity, India remains BluSmart's primary focus due to its vast population density around cities like Delhi, offering immense growth potential.
(ET Infra)
Next Story
Reliance, Diehl Advance Pact for Precision-Guided Munitions
Diehl Defence CEO Helmut Rauch and Reliance Group’s Founder Chairman Anil D. Ambani have held discussions to advance their ongoing strategic partnership focused on Guided and Terminally Guided Munitions (TGM), under a cooperation agreement originally signed in 2019.This collaboration underscores Diehl Defence’s long-term commitment to the Indian market and its support for the Indian Government’s Make in India initiative. The partnership’s current emphasis is on the urgent supply of the Vulcano 155mm Precision Guided Munition system to the Indian Armed Forces.Simultaneously, the “Vulc..
Next Story
Modis Navnirman to Migrate to Main Board, Merge Subsidiary
Modis Navnirman Limited has announced that its Board of Directors has approved a key strategic initiative involving migration from the BSE SME platform to the Main Board of both BSE and NSE, alongside a merger with its wholly owned subsidiary, Shree Modis Navnirman Private Limited.The move to the main boards marks a major milestone in the company’s growth trajectory, reflecting its consistent financial performance, robust corporate governance, and long-term commitment to value creation. This transition will grant the company access to a broader investor base, improve market participation, en..
Next Story
Global Capital Flows Remain Subdued, EMEA Leads in Q1 2025
The Bharat InvITs Association’s industry update for Q1 2025 shows subdued global capital flows, with investment volumes remaining at the lower end of the five-year range despite a late 2024 recovery. According to data from Colliers and MSCI Real Capital Analytics, activity in North America declined slightly, while EMEA maintained steady levels and emerged as the top region for investment in standing assets.The EMEA region now hosts seven of the top ten cross-border capital destinations for standing assets, pushing the United States� share of global activity below 15 per cent. Meanwhile, in..