Bharat Taxi: A New Cooperative Ride-Hailing Model in India
Riding the Bharat wave: Govt-backed taxi app bets on cooperative muscle
Business Standard
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Bharat Taxi, a government-backed cooperative ride-hailing app, aims to disrupt India's competitive market by offering ownership and profit-sharing to drivers. Despite initial challenges from established players like Uber and Ola, it has onboarded over 517,000 drivers and 5 million customers since its February launch.
- 01Bharat Taxi is a cooperative model that offers drivers ownership and profit-sharing.
- 02The app has onboarded over 517,000 drivers and 5 million customers since its launch.
- 03It faces stiff competition from established players like Uber, Ola, and Rapido.
- 04Bharat Taxi's pricing strategy includes a fixed subscription model aimed at reducing entry barriers for drivers.
- 05The platform emphasizes safety features and customer support to enhance user experience.
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Bharat Taxi, launched in February 2026 under the Sahakar Taxi Cooperative Ltd (STCL), seeks to transform India's ride-hailing landscape by empowering drivers with ownership and profit-sharing opportunities. In a market dominated by established players like Uber, Ola, and Rapido, Bharat Taxi has quickly engaged over 517,000 drivers and 5 million customers, facilitating nearly 1 million rides monthly. Union Minister for Home and Cooperation Amit Shah acknowledged the challenges Bharat Taxi faces, particularly competition from these established firms. The ride-hailing market in India reached a booking value of ₹55,000 crore (approximately $6.6 billion USD) in 2025, with Bharat Taxi currently holding a small market share in the lower single digits in the Delhi-NCR region. The platform's unique selling proposition lies in its cooperative model, which not only allows drivers to become stakeholders but also aims to create a more equitable earnings structure compared to traditional commission-based systems. Bharat Taxi operates in several cities, including Delhi, Gurugram, and Ahmedabad, with plans for further expansion. The app has undergone pricing adjustments to remain competitive and has launched aggressive marketing campaigns to increase visibility. While the platform has made strides in user engagement and safety features, it still faces the challenge of scaling up its ride volume to compete effectively in a market that is increasingly shifting towards subscription models. Analysts believe that Bharat Taxi's government backing could provide it with a competitive edge, potentially reshaping the dynamics of the ride-hailing sector in India.
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Bharat Taxi's cooperative model could provide drivers with better earnings and working conditions, potentially transforming the ride-hailing experience in India.
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