Ola CEO Bhavish Aggarwal Criticizes Google’s Reduced Maps Pricing as “Too Little Too Late”

Ola CEO Bhavish Aggarwal has expressed strong discontent with Google’s recent decision to cut the pricing of its Maps platform for developers in India by 70%, effective August 1. Google’s new pricing strategy aims to facilitate the development of location-based solutions by introducing a country-specific rate. However, this move has been met with sharp criticism from Aggarwal, who has been advocating for Ola Maps, powered by his artificial intelligence (AI) startup, Krutrim.

In a series of posts on X (formerly Twitter), Aggarwal labeled Google’s price reduction as “too little too late,” suggesting that the tech giant’s gesture came after his company had already made significant strides in developing its own mapping services. “Dear @Google, too little too late! Reducing prices for @googlemaps, ‘offering to price in ₹ after #ExitGoogleMaps. Don’t need your fake generosity! Tomorrow, I’ll be writing a blog response and announcing major updates on Ola maps @Krutrim. Stay tuned!” he wrote.

Aggarwal’s comments reflect his ongoing support for Ola Maps and Krutrim’s AI capabilities. Despite his criticism of Google, social media reactions have been mixed. Some users have criticized Aggarwal for his perceived opportunism, noting that his previous reliance on Google Maps contrasts with his current antagonistic stance. Others have pointed out the limitations of Ola Maps, suggesting that while Aggarwal’s push for Indian alternatives is commendable, the service still has significant room for improvement.

One user remarked, “You were using @googlemaps earlier. Now that you have your own Ola Maps, you started abusing @Google. This isn’t a right sprite or very cheap show of professionalism.” Another added, “Hi Bhavish, I think it’s fantastic that you are deciding to be self-reliant and also paving the way for other Indian businesses to use the Indian Map service. But Ola Map is bad right now. Too many location/lane errors.”

Others suggested more constructive approaches for promoting Ola Maps. “There are better ways to market Ola maps cheaply. Rivalries trick might be bringing a lot of traction on social platforms but leaves a bad aftertaste,” one user commented. Another urged Aggarwal to focus on product quality before making comparisons, stating, “Fix your product and then start comparing it with better ones. You are nowhere close to any of your competition in terms of customer satisfaction.”

Earlier this year, Aggarwal introduced Krutrim’s AI chatbot in public beta and, in May, launched mapping and location-based services for developers through the Ola Maps API. He has emphasized that Krutrim’s services are designed with an “India-first” cost structure. Additionally, Aggarwal announced that Ola Cabs had completely transitioned from Google Maps to its in-house Ola Maps.

As the debate over mapping services continues, Aggarwal’s remarks highlight the competitive dynamics in the tech industry and the challenges faced by emerging players trying to establish themselves in a market dominated by giants like Google.

Sources By Agencies

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