SoftBank Sells 2.15% Stake in Ola Electric Through Open Market Deals
Sat Jan 10 2026
SoftBank Group has reduced its stake in Indian electric vehicle maker Ola Electric Mobility by selling a portion of its holding through open market transactions. Despite the sale, SoftBank continues to remain one of the company’s largest shareholders.
The stake reduction comes amid ongoing changes in Ola Electric’s shareholder structure as early investors rebalance exposure following the company’s public market debut.
Details of the Stake Sale
According to regulatory disclosures, SoftBank’s investment arm sold nearly 9.5 crore equity shares between September 3, 2025, and January 5, 2026.
- Stake sold: ~2.15% of total equity
- Disclosure trigger: Crossing the 2% threshold
- Mode: Open market transactions
Before the sale, SoftBank held 69.16 crore shares, representing a 15.68% stake in Ola Electric. After the transactions, its holding declined to 59.7 crore shares, or 13.53%.
The filings did not disclose the reason behind the stake reduction.
Second Stake Trim in Recent Months
This is the second time SoftBank has pared its stake in Ola Electric in a relatively short period.
- July–September 2025:
- Stake reduced from 17.83% to 15.68%
The continued trimming suggests portfolio rebalancing rather than a full exit, a strategy SoftBank has adopted across several mature investments globally.
Broader Changes in Ola Electric’s Shareholding
SoftBank’s move comes alongside other notable changes in Ola Electric’s cap table.
Z47 Fully Exits
Early investor Z47, which had co-led a funding round in 2019, has fully exited the company after gradually selling down its stake over multiple quarters.
Bhavish Aggarwal’s Bulk Deal
Separately, Bhavish Aggarwal, Founder and CEO of Ola Electric, sold around 2.6 crore shares through a bulk deal, raising approximately ₹91 crore.
The company clarified that:
- The sale was undertaken to repay a promoter-level loan
- Following repayment, pledged promoter shares are expected to be released
As of September 2025, Aggarwal held a 30.02% stake in Ola Electric.
What This Signals
SoftBank’s partial stake sale reflects a broader trend among late-stage and pre-IPO investors who are locking in gains while maintaining strategic exposure.
For Ola Electric:
- Institutional ownership remains strong
- Promoter control remains intact
- Shareholding is gradually transitioning toward a more public-market-oriented structure
Why This Matters
As India’s EV sector matures, capital market dynamics are beginning to resemble those of global auto and tech companies—where early investors rebalance holdings while companies focus on execution, scale, and profitability.
SoftBank’s continued presence, despite stake trimming, signals ongoing confidence in Ola Electric’s long-term trajectory, even as the company navigates public market scrutiny and intensifying competition in electric mobility.
Sat Jan 10 2026
