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Rapido , the eight - year - former Indian bike hack startup , is expanding into the cab market place in the South Asian nation , where Uber and its homegrown competitor Ola dominate .
The Bengaluru - based startup has begun a airplane pilot of its hack service in the southern urban center of Hyderabad , TechCrunch has get a line and confirmed . The company be after to expand the service to other metropolis , include Delhi - NCR , Bengaluru and Chandigarh . The Delhi - NCR launch ofRapidocabs will take place as early as next week , three people familiar with the matter tell TechCrunch .
Until recently , Rapido customers have been able-bodied to hail a ride on a motorized bike or a three - wheeled auto rickshaw . The company ’s decision to summate cars in the mix broaden its offering and could avail it expand its customer base . It also make a stickiness for existing customer who might have previously prefer to take an Uber on those occasions when they needed a ride in a cable car .
“ At Rapido , we ’re thrilled to share that our test run in Hyderabad for Rapido Cabs is off to a fantastic start . The urban center ’s vivacious market has warmly embraced us , and the overconfident response is truly heartening . As we navigate our path forrader , we are committed to keeping you closely informed about our progress and eagerly anticipate bringing our innovative service to other city , ” a Rapido interpreter said in a statement to TechCrunch .
In summation to offer cabs , Rapido is front to integrate intercity bus slate booking within its app by partnering with Zingbus , a germ told TechCrunch . The partnership would aid Rapido grow its gross product time value and Gurugram - base Zingbus amplify its client foundation .
Rapido and Zingbus did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the partnership .
establish in 2015 , Rapido operates in more than 100 metropolis in India and has over 25 million app downloads . The inauguration also has over 10 million customers and crossed 100 million rides , per the statistics available on its site .
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For some time , India saw a duopoly in the app - based cab securities industry where Uber and Olaheld 90 % share together . However , the country has started seeing the shift in the last few month , with topically grow BluSmart entering with its all - electrical fleet and Mountain View – headquarter inDrive stepping into the market with its unparalleled haggling theoretical account .
Although India has numerous cabs , the price - tender nature of its population has lead companies , including Uber and Ola , to bid wheel taxi in major city . Rapido comes as a solid alternative to these companies , with its broad presence . The inauguration tout to have over a million wheel drivers on the platform to offer affordable intra - city traveling and last - mile connectivity .
Nonetheless , the want of clarity on bike taxicab regularisation in dissimilar Amerindic statesmakes it harderfor all platform to continue to project their ontogenesis in the market .
Rapido has raised $ 324 million in total , harmonize to the dataavailableon Tracxn , with thelast round of $ 180 millionannounced in April last year . The startup counts VC firms WestBridge , Shell Ventures , Nexus Venture Partners and AdvantEdge among its investors . It also has indorse from food delivery collector Swiggy and Amerindic two - wheeler giant TVS Motor Company .
