DriveU cofounder Ashok Shastry recently stepped down from his executive role in the company after a decade of service. He held key leadership roles, including COO, CGO, and CEO, since joining DriveU in 2015. However, Shastry will continue to support DriveU as a member of its board of directors. His decision to leave day-to-day management was personal and not related to the company’s performance.
Strong Growth for DriveU
DriveU, based in Bengaluru, is India’s largest on-demand driver service platform. The company recently reported strong financial results for FY25, with gross revenue rising 22% to Rs 111.8 crore from Rs 91.6 crore in FY24. Profit after tax (PAT) surged to Rs 1.73 crore compared to Rs 0.11 crore the previous year. DriveU has become a trusted platform for professional drivers serving over 1 lakh verified driver partners and more than 1 million car owners. The company is expanding into major cities like Chennai, Hyderabad, and Delhi.
Strategic Focus on Growth and Customer Experience
DriveU has increased spending on marketing by 74% and employee benefits by 15% to support growth and brand building. The company offers diverse services including outstation travel, mid-day shopping trips, and doorstep car washing. Innovations like preferred drivers and real-time safety features have helped improve customer trust and repeat bookings. DriveU aims to improve its market share in cities where car owners are still low users of the service.
Looking Ahead
While Ashok Shastry steps down from daily operations, he remains confident in DriveU’s strategic direction and growth potential. The company plans to continue expanding its presence and enhancing the driver and user experience using technology. The strong financials indicate DriveU’s scalable business model and increasing customer trust in India’s growing on-demand driver market.
This change marks a new chapter for DriveU, with founders focusing on long-term growth while maintaining operational efficiency to meet the rising demand for chauffeur services across India.