New Delhi: The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has initiated an investigation into Ola Electric, a prominent electric vehicle manufacturer, over allegations of suppressing consumer complaints related to product and service issues.
The regulatory body, headed by Nidhi Khare, issued a notice to Ola Electric on October 7th, 2023, following a surge in consumer complaints lodged on the National Consumer Helpline (NCH). The complaints primarily centered around issues such as product defects, poor after-sales service, and misleading advertisements.
In its response to the CCPA notice on October 21st, Ola Electric claimed to have resolved 99.1% of the 10,644 complaints received. However, the CCPA expressed skepticism regarding this claim, citing discrepancies between the company’s response and the feedback received from a sample of consumers.
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“The consumers said their grievances were only whitewashed and closed,” Khare stated.
To delve deeper into the matter, the CCPA has directed the Director General (Investigation) of the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) to conduct a thorough investigation and submit a report within 15 days. The investigation will focus on allegations of unfair trade practices, misleading advertisements, and the company’s handling of consumer complaints.
This development underscores the increasing scrutiny faced by electric vehicle manufacturers as consumer awareness and expectations grow. The CCPA’s investigation aims to ensure that consumer rights are protected and that companies adhere to fair business practices.
