BluSmart, an emerging Indian ride-hailing company, has officially begun operations in Dubai. Previously speculated, this strategic move positions BluSmart to compete with established players like Careem, Uber, and Hala in the UAE’s bustling city.
The Gurugram-based firm enabled its Dubai service discreetly through its app earlier this week and has also set up a specific subdomain on its website for the Dubai market. Co-founder Anmol Jaggi confirmed to TechCrunch that the pilot program commenced on Tuesday, featuring 100 Audi E-Tron SUVs and 130 drivers. According to Jaggi, the official launch is scheduled for early June.
Planning for BluSmart’s entry into Dubai began in early 2023. When asked about this last March, BluSmart Chief Business Officer Tushar Garg denied the claims. Nonetheless, co-founder Punit Goyal later revealed in an interview with local media that launches in both Abu Dhabi and Dubai were planned for the November-December timeframe.
While Jaggi refrained from providing a specific date, he did confirm to TechCrunch that the Abu Dhabi service would roll out later this year.
Established in 2019 by Jaggi, his brother Puneet Jaggi, and Punit Goyal, BluSmart aims to challenge the dominance of Uber and SoftBank-backed Ola. The startup initially launched with a fleet of electric vehicles (EVs) in Gurugram and Delhi, extending its services to Bengaluru in 2022.
In January, BluSmart secured $25 million from Switzerland-based impact fund ResponsAbility to bolster its charging infrastructure.
In recent developments, BluSmart reported a substantial increase in its annual run rate, growing 102% to reach $60 million, with a compound annual growth rate of 300% over the past three years. The firm currently operates more than 7,300 EVs, which have collectively covered approximately 286 million miles, and aims to expand its fleet to 10,000 by the end of 2024.
