Bus transport service provider, Chalo, has announced that it has acquired Bengaluru-based two-wheeler rental start-up, Vogo. The former says that under this partnership Vogo will expand Chalo's bus technology services by powering first and the last mile rides at major bus stops and other public places. This will allow bus users to travel to and from bus stops, using Vogo's rental scooters and motorcycles. In fact, Vogo, which is switching to a 100 per cent electric vehicle fleet, will expand beyond two-wheelers to new vehicle categories as well.
Commenting on the development Vinayak Bhavnani, Co-founder and Chief Technology Officer, Chalo, said "This acquisition offers Chalo key strategic gains. Now we will be able to offer a convenient and cost-effective option for bus passengers to travel to and from bus stops, solving the door-to-door daily commute. This will increase bus ridership and serves our core purpose of making travel more convenient and reliable for all."
Also Read: Ola Invests $100 Million In Scooter Sharing Firm Vogo To Supply 100,000 Scooters
Vogo will continue to function under the same brand name and it also plans to expand beyond two-wheelers to new vehicle categories
Vogo will continue to function under the same brand name, while its founders Anand Ayyadurai and Padmanabhan Balakrishnan, and the rest of the Vogo team continue to work with Chalo and Vogo. Anand will step into a new leadership role in the Chalo group, while Padmanabhan, previously Vogo's Chief Operating Officer, will now serve as the Chief Executive Officer. Abhimanyu Goyal, who was serving as the Vice President, Engineering has now been elevated to Chief Technology Officer, and Sharath Parameswaran, who previously served as the Vice President, Operations and Growth, has now become the Chief Business Officer of Vogo.
Chalo raised a $40 million Series C funding in October 2021, taking its total funding to $62 million, and the acquisition of Shuttl shortly thereafter. Right now, the company is present in 37 cities across 13 Indian states including Maharashtra, Delhi NCR, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Assam, and others.
