Are you aware that the popular ‘Keke Napep’ transportation business in Lagos has found its way to Liverpool in the UK and is to be known as ‘Tuk Tuks.’
However, the business is not from Nigeria. Rather, India’s number one transport service, OLA has been able to extend the service to the UK. As mentioned earlier, the business will not be known as Ola. Rather, it has been named ‘Tuk Tuks.’
Shortly after its official launch in Liverpool, the Managing Director of OLA UK, Ben Legg revealed that 500 drivers have already been saddled with the responsibility of running the service.
Interestingly, the Managing Director was spotted picking up and dropping passengers at several spots around the city.
“I have been driving passengers around the city today and have really enjoyed the chance to discuss the challenges that the community faces and how we can help with our new technology. We are celebrating bringing more travel and employment choices to Liverpudlians with our ride-hailing app with the help of the community choir,” Ben Legg was quoted as saying shortly after the launch.
To ensure that the new transport system is well embraced, a fleet of bright green coloured Bajaj and Piaggio autorickshaws was unveiled in March in Liverpool. In addition to this, customers were reportedly offered free rickshaw rides around the Liverpool city centre on the day it was launched.
The goal, according to OLA UK is to compete with its biggest rival, Uber in a way that will ensure it eventually tops the market and goes on to compete on a global scale.
Another incentive it had adopted is to pay its drivers more than Uber does. That’s not all. The window for free rides might be over but OLA had made it clear that riders will enjoy a 50% discount off their first rides. All riders are expected to do to enjoy the discount is to download the app and hail themselves a ride between now and the end of April 2019.
It should be recalled that Ola commenced operation in the UK; specifically in Cardiff in August 2018. OLA UK currently operates in Bristol, Exeter and Bath.
The Liverpool launch caps the number of cities where it operates at 5 as it works towards expanding its operation into other cities in the north of England at some point in 2019.