MakeMyTrip Acquires Majority Stake in Quick Ride to Expand Ride Pooling

MakeMyTrip, a leading travel technology platform, announced on Friday that it has acquired a majority stake in Quick Ride, a shared mobility technology company. The terms of the deal were not disclosed. This strategic move aims to strengthen MakeMyTrip's footprint in the ride-pooling and shared mobility sector, a growing segment within urban transportation.

Quick Ride, headquartered in Bengaluru, operates an asset-light platform designed to facilitate carpooling among users traveling similar routes. By connecting commuters, Quick Ride helps reduce costs and increases efficiency for daily travelers. The platform has formed partnerships with various enterprises, IT parks, business campuses, and corporate offices, allowing employees to use the service for their daily commutes.

Rajesh Magow, co-founder and group CEO of MakeMyTrip, highlighted the significance of this acquisition, saying, "Ride pooling gives us a presence in high-frequency daily commutes within cities, as well as intercity travel. We are excited to be part of the ride-sharing ecosystem, which has the potential to help ease traffic congestion by enabling more people to share their daily journeys." He added that ride-sharing will complement MakeMyTrip's existing ground transportation services and will become an integral part of the group’s portfolio.

MakeMyTrip intends to apply the experience and insights gained from developing redBus, its bus ticketing platform, both domestically and internationally, to expand and scale the Quick Ride business. This suggests a focus on leveraging established expertise in ground transportation to solidify its position in ride pooling.

Following the acquisition, Quick Ride’s ride-pooling operations have been reorganized under a new company named Co Ride Mobility Private Limited. The original promoters of Quick Ride will continue to lead this new entity. Meanwhile, Quick Ride’s former electric vehicle taxi business remains with the previous company, iDisha Info Labs Private Limited.

KNM Rao, founder and CEO of Quick Ride, expressed optimism about the future, stating, "We built Quick Ride to make it easier for people to connect and share their everyday journeys. Becoming part of the MakeMyTrip group is an important milestone for our team and for the community of users who have placed their trust in us. We look forward to drawing on MakeMyTrip’s reach and experience in travel to further scale the business." His comments underline the mutual benefits expected from the collaboration.

Prakash Sangam, CEO of redBus and head of ground transport at MakeMyTrip, noted that the company aims to serve customers throughout their travel experiences, from daily commutes to weekend trips. This acquisition aligns with MakeMyTrip’s broader strategy of offering comprehensive ground transportation solutions.

MakeMyTrip has been actively growing through acquisitions across various travel-related sectors in recent years. Some notable additions include Savaari, a car rental service; Happay, which specializes in corporate travel and expense management; Flamingo Transworld, focused on regional group holiday packages; and Atlys, a visa processing platform. The Quick Ride acquisition marks the company’s entry into the ride-pooling market, expanding its service offerings and addressing a key area of urban mobility.

The ride-pooling market has seen increased interest as cities seek sustainable transportation options that reduce traffic congestion and pollution. Platforms like Quick Ride provide commuters with affordable, convenient alternatives to private vehicles while promoting a shared economy approach. MakeMyTrip’s investment in this segment reflects a broader industry trend of integrating various travel modes into unified customer experiences.

With this acquisition, MakeMyTrip positions itself to compete more effectively in the shared mobility landscape. By combining Quick Ride’s technology and user base with its own extensive travel ecosystem, the company aims to enhance daily commuting options for millions of users across India and potentially beyond.