Bajaj Auto new Chetak Pune: In the emerging electric mobility industry, Bajaj Auto's ambition is to lead the two-wheeler makers pack. While it has managed to achieve it for the first nineteen days of December it bets on the just launched new avatar of its electric Chetak, with a new platform, technologies, and features, to sustain the market performance. This 35 series of Chetak comes in three variants, two of which -- 3501 and 3502, wears ex-showroom price tags of INR 1,27,243 and INR 1,20,000, respectively. The third variant, the 3503, is in the pipeline. This series will replace the existing 3201 and 3202 Chetak.
The new Bajaj Chetak is designed to address all the customer feedback on the old Chetak, said Joseph Abraham, MD, Bajaj Auto Technology. With all the R&D and value engineering work, the company managed to reduce the Chetak's BoM (Bill of Material) cost by 45% over a year, he added.
The upgraded Chetak comes with a next-generation motor and telematics unit to provide a more technologically advanced experience for its users. The new motor controller is combined with a DC converter to make it more efficient, reducing the number of controllers on the vehicle.
The new Chetak also features a larger, 35-litre boot space, offering better storage, which was lacking in the old model. This new version is equipped with a lighter battery, weighing about 3 kg, as stated by the company during the launch.
The Chetak is also being planned to be exported, beginning next financial year. Rakesh Sharma, ED, Bajaj Auto said around a dozen markets are being considered for exporting the EV too.
Looking Beyond the Current Sales
Currently, Bajaj Chetak competes with the TVS iQube, Ather Riza, Ola S1 range, and Ampere Nexus in the Indian auto market. However, Bajaj believes the company focuses more on new technological developments and enhanced customer experiences, and thus, they look "beyond immediate numbers."
The company, which has invested around INR 300 crore in its EV business over the past three years, has dedicated its Akurdi manufacturing facility in Pune to Chetak production. “We invested right at the beginning in a Chetak Learning Center here at the Akurdi campus, where we set up the largest training facility dedicated to dealership personnel in the entire EV two-wheeler space,” said Eric Vas, President, Urbanite Business Unit, Bajaj Auto.
The company, which managed to capture 26.7% of the market share of electric two-wheelers in the first half of December, is in the first position. This success is attributed to the wide adoption of Chetak in India.
“What is most important for all of us in Team Chetak here at Bajaj Auto is the fact that we have achieved this (business growth) systematically and in a measured manner,” stated Vas.
Bajaj Auto looks to build Chetak as an 'umbrella brand', under which the EV portfolio could have 7-8 offerings over the next year or so.
