The Truth Behind Ola Electric’s Muhurat Mahotsav Sale

Ola Electric's "Muhurat Mahotsav" sale, which coincided with Navratri 2025 and the GST 20 rollout, claimed to sell out in five minutes without revealing the number of units available, prompting questions about transparency and marketing tactics.

The sale offered scooters and bikes starting at ₹49,999, but the lack of disclosed inventory numbers allowed for speculation on whether the 'sold out' claim was based on 5 or 5,000 units

Jayant Shilanjan Mundhra criticized Ola Electric for potentially manipulating stock prices through selective disclosure, highlighting how the illusion of overwhelming demand can generate free publicity and hype

Most media outlets and influencers amplified Ola's narrative without questioning the opaque numbers, while financial institutions like BSE and NSE did not challenge the lack of detailed information

The incident serves as a cautionary tale about how corporate filings can be used as powerful PR tools, raising concerns about gaps in India's corporate disclosure regulations

Mundhra warns that such perception-driven tactics could set a precedent for other brands, risking investor trust and market integrity if companies continue exploiting these methods

While the GST 20 reforms offered legitimate reasons for brands to offer discounts, the Ola episode highlights the potential backlash from consumers who are increasingly informed and vocal.

In the long term, companies must consider whether short-term attention spikes are worth the potential erosion of credibility, as trust is harder to rebuild than hype is to generate

As India’s EV and consumer tech sectors grow, brands have an opportunity to align marketing strategies with transparency, prioritizing clarity, honesty, and consumer respect

In a world of viral filings and influencer influence, the true differentiator for brands will be the clarity and honesty of their communication, rather than the volume of their marketing efforts