Online cab aggregator Ola has shut down TaxiForSure (TFS), which it acquired for $200 million over a year ago, and has fully integrated its operations with itself. With the integration, Ola has let go over 400 employees though it did not officially confirm the numbers.

As a consolidated entity, Ola customers now have access to 4.5 lakh cabs and about 5.5 lakh drivers.

TFS worked on the business model of operators who would rent the aggregator their taxis, while Ola’s model was based on single driver-entrepreneurs. As of today, 70 per cent of cab operators at Ola are driver-entrepreneurs and the rest are cab operators.

“TFS’s value proposition as an economy brand for customers has been seamlessly integrated on to the Ola platform with the launch and rapid adoption of Ola Micro,” said a press statement from ANI Technologies Ltd, which operates Ola.

With the integration, Ola Micro is now larger than the aggregator’s nearest rival, it claimed. “Ola Micro has expanded to over 90 cities across India and accounts for the largest share of first-time cab users coming on to any mobility platform. With all TFS driver-partners and customers coming on board the Ola app, the integration is now complete.”

Ola said, during the course of the integration, it has absorbed as many TFS employees as possible for open roles in Ola to support its growth.

“For positions that cease to exist as a result of this transition, we are offering enhanced severance benefits and outplacement services to help affected employees pursue new career opportunities,” the statement said.

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