Ola Electric starts Gen-3 upgrade program, new platform for old customers

The country’s popular EV two-wheeler company Ola Electric has started a new Gen-3 upgrade program with the aim of retaining its existing customers and increasing their satisfaction. The company’s founder and CEO Bhavish Aggarwal has recently announced this on social media platform X (formerly Twitter). He wrote that we are launching an upgrade program for our Gen-1 and Gen-2 customers, so that they can shift to our latest Gen-3 products, which also includes the 4680 version. It is starting from Bengaluru this weekend.

This scheme is for those customers who have old Gen-1 or Gen-2 models of Ola. They can now upgrade to the company’s advanced Gen-3 platform. The models available include the scooters range S1 Pro, S1 Pro+ and S1X Gen-3, while the bikes include the Roadster, Roadster X and Roadster X+.

What is special in Gen-3 models?

Among these, premium variants with Ola’s indigenous 4680 ‘Bharat Cell’ battery technology are also available. Gen-3 models include hardware improvements such as a mid-drive motor, chain-drive system, improved efficiency and durability. In some models the riding range can reach up to 320 kilometers. Additionally, MoveOS software updates have made the riding experience and ownership easier and smarter.

Company’s master plan!

This upgrade plan is an important strategic step for Ola Electric, as the company is currently facing many challenges. Ola’s share, which had more than 36 percent market share at the end of 2024, has now come down to just 4-6 percent. Companies like TVS Motor and Bajaj Auto are controlling more than 60 percent of the market. Customer complaints have mainly been related to service delays, parts availability and reliability. The company has also been affected financially. Revenue halved in Q3 and there was a loss of ₹490 crore.

To overcome these issues, Ola has started ‘Structural Reset’. The company is reducing the number of its physical stores to about 550 by March 2026, which were earlier 700. Also, ‘Hyperservice’ centers have been started, where the target is to complete 80 percent of service requests on the same day. Service backlog has reduced by 50 percent. The upgrade program is part of this broader strategy, which will keep the old customers connected with the company by providing them with the latest technology and better performance.

Will the OLA era return?

Experts believe that this plan will help in increasing customer loyalty. However, the exact exchange value, discount or payment details of the upgrade have not been announced yet. After starting in Bengaluru, it is likely to be expanded to other cities. Ola Electric believes that the Gen-3 platform with PLI certification and advanced battery technology will help the company become a market leader again.