Rapido is one of the biggest ridesharing startups in India and in surrounding destinations, but it has recently suffered losses.
Its solution for these losses: to increase spending on advertising.
In 2025, Rapido reportedly increased spending on advertising and promotion, despite the narrowed losses and expanded revenue.
The Bengaluru-headquartered company posted losses amounting to about $2.9 million, but they were fewer compared to the amount of the losses in 2024. However, the numbers are still significant. Nevertheless, their profits and revenue increased during the similar time. Meanwhile, in the part of the commissions, it fell to $3.3 million, which is 29 percent of the total revenue. Revenue from deliveries, food transport, and parcel transport rose 28.3 percent, and income from subscriptions also grew.
But still, the losses are not to be set aside as total expenses moved up to 18.3 percent in 2025, compared to around $129 million in 2024. The spending is far greater than the profits.
So, Rapido has decided to boost ad spending to make up for the losses. There are several benefits of boosting spending on ads. Businesses spending more on advertising can enjoy the following advantages: increased brand visibility and awareness, stronger brand recall and recognition, higher customer acquisition and sales growth, competitive advantage in crowded markets, greater trust and perceived credibility, faster market penetration for new products, and improved long-term brand equity.
That also goes to show that Rapido is accepting the challenge of improving the way they work on ads since late last year, the company faced raps on allegedly misleading ads.
In October 2025, the Central Consumer Protection Authority or CCPA issued a final order versus the operator of Rapido, Roppen Transportation Services, over a ruling that the ridesharing app used misleading ad practices on its app, website, and YouTube channel.
Ridesharing media reported that the CCPA took action suo motu after evaluating the platform’s promotional campaign, which reportedly promised this: “Guaranteed auto, Auto in 5 min or get INR50.”
From the point of view of the CCPA, this claim was made with sufficient disclaimers, intentionally creating a false impression about the certainties of the service and compensation.
Then, the company faced several other complaints, but most of them were specifically about the “misleading advertisement.”
Detailing on what CCPA thinks is misleading, consumers were offered only a few value of Rapido coins rather than the promise as the ads stated, enabling CCPA to think that the Rapido ads are really misleading.
Rapido is based in India, a bike taxi and ridesharing platform known for offering affordable and quick transportation across the busiest cities. Through the mobile app, users could book motorcycle rides or autos, providing faster commutes, flexible income for riders, and a cost-effective alternative to traditional taxis.
This time that Rapido is increasing its spending on its ads, will it be able to conquer this hurdle? Tell Ridesharing Forum your thoughts by signing up for your account today, and joining the discussion. Keep browsing the website, too!