Tamil Nadu EV Startup Oor Cabs Secures Rs 25 Crore Investment for Green Mobility Push
Oor Cabs, an electric vehicle (EV) startup based in Trichy, has successfully secured a significant investment of Rs 25 crore from the Tamil Nadu Infrastructure Fund Management Corporation (TNIFMC). This funding is part of the Tamil Nadu Green Climate Fund scheme, aimed at promoting sustainable transportation solutions across the state.
Expansion Plans and Fleet Enhancement
With the newly acquired state investment, Oor Cabs plans to substantially expand its operations. The startup intends to add at least 300 e-autorickshaws within the next year, targeting several tier II cities in Tamil Nadu, including Trichy and Madurai. This move is designed to boost green mobility options for public transport, reducing carbon emissions and fostering eco-friendly travel.
Currently, Oor Cabs owns and operates 40 e-autos exclusively in Trichy city. These vehicles are driven by employees on a monthly salary basis, with a notable inclusion of 16 women drivers. The startup manages up to 500 rides daily, but demand often outstrips supply, leading to challenges in service availability.
Addressing Demand and Technological Innovations
Maria Antony, founder and CEO of Oor Cabs, highlighted the startup's growth strategy in an interview with TOI. "For Trichy, we will add 100 e-autos before May 2026. Women auto drivers with a monthly salary starting from Rs 16,500 will be recruited. Gradually, we will expand to Madurai, Tirunelveli, Karaikudi, and Thanjavur," Antony stated.
The existing fleet of 40 e-autos in Trichy currently meets only 500 out of 1,100 daily bookings, resulting in passenger wait times that can exceed 15 minutes. To tackle this issue, Oor Cabs is developing Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered tools. These tools will predict and distribute the fleet across different city areas based on real-time demand, aiming to significantly reduce waiting periods for passengers.
"We are working on AI-powered tools to predict and distribute our fleet in different areas of the city based on demand, to reduce passengers' waiting time. The demand is huge in tier II cities. For Trichy city alone, we may add 300 more e-autos in a phased manner," Antony explained.
Infrastructure Development and Future Goals
A portion of the Rs 25 crore investment will be allocated to setting up charging station infrastructure. Oor Cabs plans to establish charging points in three different areas within Trichy city to support the expanded fleet. Looking ahead, the startup aims to implement solar-powered charging points, striving to achieve net-zero emissions and further enhance its environmental impact.
The funding was secured after Oor Cabs applied for state government support and was selected during the Tamil Nadu climate summit held in Chennai last week. This endorsement underscores the state's commitment to fostering innovative green initiatives and supporting startups that contribute to sustainable development.
Oor Cabs currently accepts ride bookings through WhatsApp and a dedicated mobile application, offering convenient access to its services. The expansion and technological upgrades are expected to improve service reliability and customer satisfaction, positioning the startup as a key player in Tamil Nadu's evolving EV landscape.
