MHI directs ARAI to probe Ola Electric over sales and registration data mismatch

Homegrown electric vehicle manufacturer Ola Electric is under regulatory scrutiny across the country. The Ministry of Heavy Industries has directed the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) to investigate discrepancies between the company’s reported sales figures and the number of vehicles officially registered, sources told CNBC-TV18.

Ola Electric claims to have sold 25,000 vehicles in February, yet the Vahan Portal, a government database, records only 8,600 registrations for that month.

ARAI has been tasked with reviewing Ola Electric’s response to these concerns and determining whether the discrepancy breaches company laws or regulatory standards.
The investigation will also examine why some Ola Electric vehicles were sold without valid trade certificates and verify whether the company has service centres in all cities where it operates.

Once the probe is complete, ARAI must submit a detailed report to the Ministry of Heavy Industries.

In a related development, Regional Transport Office (RTO) authorities in Maharashtra inspected Ola Electric showrooms in Mumbai and Pune, seizing 36 scooters that failed to meet compliance requirements.

The issues extend beyond Maharashtra. In Punjab, multiple Ola Electric stores have shut down.

Meanwhile, in Jabalpur, RTO officials have issued notices to the company after discovering that some scooters were being sold unregistered and without valid trade certificates.