Blusmart to end ride hailing services, to transition to Uber partner

Ride-hailing start up BluSmart is planning to exit its core business and move on to become a fleet partner of its former rival Uber, according to media reports.

The reports say that the shareholders have approved a plan to transition its fleet from its own platform to Uber in the coming weeks, beginning with 700-800 cars in phases.

Once the transition is finished, BluSmart will wind up its own business. The timeline is still not finalised, according to the report.

The electric ride-hailing startup has been grappling with sweeping operational rejigs, marked by several top-level exits, according to media reports.

According to The Morning Context, Chief Executive Officer Anirudh Arun, Chief Business Officer Tushar Garg, Chief Technology Officer Rishabh Sood, and Vice-President of Experience Priya Chakravarthy have all stepped down from their roles. The exit of top executives comes as the company undertakes a strategic effort to amp up its financial sustainability. 

Amid the leadership changes, Nandan Sharma, the ex Vice-President of Business and Operations, has been elevated to Chief Executive Officer, sources told the publication. 

At the center of BluSmart’s restructuring is a fleet reorganisation deal involving the company's parent, Gensol Engineering, which is reportedly winding down existing vehicle lease arrangements. As part of this, Gensol has agreed to sell 2,997 electric vehicles—roughly 34% of BluSmart's total fleet of 8,700 EVs—to Chennai-based Refex Green Mobility. 

Crucially, the vehicles will be leased back to BluSmart, ensuring service continuity. Refex will also take over an outstanding Rs 315 crore loan associated with the fleet. However, the deal is subject to regulatory approval. 

Despite the restructuring, BluSmart has assured that its ride-hailing services will remain unaffected, signaling that operational continuity remains a priority even as the company navigates financial headwinds. 

The developments reflect both the high capital intensity of EV-based mobility services and the challenges startups face in balancing scale with sustainability. With fresh leadership and a restructured balance sheet, industry watchers will be closely tracking BluSmart’s next phase.