Maruti Suzuki joins hands with Ola to train 40,000 drivers

Maruti Suzuki has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Ola Cabs, under which, the former will be training drivers who wish to join Ola's fleet of cabs. The two companies will be initiating a ‘Maruti Ola Training Program’ to train 40,000 individuals over a period of three years.

The said initiative will first start through a pilot phase in Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chennai and NCR. It will then gradually be rolled out to other cities as well, including Mumbai, Ahmedabad and Pune. Maruti Suzuki will be providing all necessary training to the drivers through the company's driving schools. The automaker will also be helping individuals to obtain commercial license and avail financing options to purchase their own car. Once the course is complete, Ola will be responsible for creating opportunities for these trained drivers on its cab hailing platform.

Drivers engaging in the Maruti Ola Training Program will undergo a 30-day driving training, which will also include pre- and post- assessment tests. These tests will help the company to gauge the progress made by enrolled drivers during the program.

Maruti has divided the entire training program into multiple parts. The classroom sessions will familiarize the trainee with basic information about vehicle controls & mechanisms, maintenance & fuel efficiency tips, road signs and traffic laws. The program will also have dedicated sessions on soft skills, which will help drivers to properly communicate with customers. The training curriculum is said to have special focus on safe and efficient driving, pre-checks before starting to drive, risk perception, defensive driving techniques, driving in difficult conditions, rules of the road and emergency handling.

Maruti Suzuki had earlier signed a similar MoU with Uber India, which is Ola's arch rival in the on-demand ride-hailing marketplace.