INDIA'S OLA-AUSTRALIA BATTLES UBER

India's OLA enters Australia as it battles UBER.

INDIAN ride-hailing company Ola is launching in Australia, it announced Tuesday, making its first foray abroad as it steps up a battle with rival Uber.

Ola launched in 2011 and claims to handle around billion rides every year across India's major cities.

The company said it would soon start operations in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth was inviting public  private vehicle  owners  to partner with it.

Co-founder Bhavish Aggarwal said Ola saw ''immense potential'' in ride-sharing.

Ride-hailing apps are booming in India despite still opposition from traditional taxi firms  and some initial concerns about passenger safety.

Ola  and Uber are locked in an aggressive fight  for a greater share of India's  taxi-app   market,  which is estimated to be worth around $10 billion.

Both companies are backed by Japan's SoftBank Group and recently ventured into the food delivery  business, intensifying their rivalry further.

[Agencies].