Zomato’s Q-commerce arm Blinkit launched its 10-minute ambulance service on Thursday as a pilot run in certain areas of Gurugram, the prominent Haryana city that is part of the National Capital Region (NCR).
With the Blinkit app, users can call for an ambulance, as the company outlined in an official statement. “These ambulances will be stocked with essential life-saving equipment, including oxygen cylinders, AED (automated external defibrillator), stretcher, monitor, suction machine, and essential emergency medicines and injections,” stated Blinkit.
Blinkit also said that each ambulance would be equipped with a scoop stretcher and a wheelchair, with a medic, an assistant, and a trained driver on duty.
Not only is Blinkit’s move a first in Q-commerce, but it also opens up the possibility for more vehicle-based services through new models of commerce.
EV stakeholders to meet government on Jan 3
With the automobile industry swiftly spreading its new wings in the EV sector, most EV stakeholders look to meet with Piyush Goyal, the union minister for commerce and industry, along with the officials from the heavy industries department later on Friday.
The meet, which is expected to be attended by representatives from Tata Motors, Mahindra and Mahindra, Mercedes-Benz, Hero MotoCorp, and other automakers, is said to be a starting point in solving issues relating to infrastructure support for charging and battery swapping, according to reports.
Union minister HD Kumaraswamy-led heavy industries department looks to ensure charging infrastructure to push for swifter adoption of EVs in the country, with the Centre planning to install at least 10,700 public EV charging stations in India under the FAME-II scheme.
Is Tesla fizzling out without emerging markets like India?
There have also been rumours that Elon Musk-led Tesla Motors might introduce its vehicles in India. However, latest reports suggest that Musk’s entry into mainstream politics and administration under Donald Trump’s second-term government might pour cold water on such plans, if any.
Global sales of Tesla for 2024 fell 1.1 per cent to 1.79 million unit deliveries due to slowing demand in the US and other territories. Fierce competition from the likes of Chinese and European automakers made a dent in Musk’s ambitious “sales to grow 50 per cent annually” predictions. Not entering markets like India, where EV adoption took over like wildfire, could also be the reason for such stagnation.
