Bajaj Auto launched Chetak Electric Scooter today in New Delhi_(India)

Reading Time: 6 minutes

Bajaj re-entered into scooter segment with newly launched Bajaj Chetak electric scooter

Launch event of Bajaj Chetak Electric Scooter

Today was a very special day for Bajaj Auto Ltd. and its customers.

Place: Hotel Oberoi New Delhi

Occasion: The launch event of the Bajaj Chetak Electric Scooter under the Urbanite brand.

After a very long separation of 10 years from the scooter industry today Bajaj Auto re-entered into the scooter market once again but this time with the e-scooter. Company unveiled the new Bajaj Chetak electric scooter.

During the launch event Bajaj Auto Ltd. MD Rahul Bajaj also put the hard comment on those who recently entered into the electric two-wheelers manufacturing and marketing. Especially those who have no experience of working on electric vehicle technology and those who think that by importing all the major components from China and assembling it into India will change the game of Indian electric two-wheeler market.
MD Rahul Bajaj also said that many manufacturing is not focusing on electric scooters because they have a conflict of interest but Bajaj auto has not that problem and what we have the clear vision for the electric scooter. We don’t sell the petrol scooter so don’t have the conflict between petrol and electric scooter.

Dignitaries were present: Nitin Gadkari – Minister of Road Transport and Highways of India Amitabh Kant – CEO of the NITI Aayog Rajiv Bajaj – Managing director Bajaj Auto

Key Features of Bajaj Chetak e-Scooter:

Bajaj Chetak Electric Scooters

Well, company has not given technical details today and kept it undisclosed for the final launch. But the unveiled electric-scooter says much more which is enough to understand the product. e-Scooter looks very pleasant and also classic.
Electric Motor: 4 kW
Battery Range: 95km in Eco , 85 km in Sports mode
Charger: 05V and 15 Amp charger
Battery pack: IP67 rated
Brakes: Front Disc and Rear Drum
Wheels: 12 inch alloys  and 90/90 MRF Zapper tubeless
Under seat storage: Approx. 19 ltrs
Reverse Mode: Scooter has reverse mode also like Ather 450 e-Scooter

Instrument Cluster of Bajaj Chetak Electric Scooter

It has fully digital instrument cluster which is round in shape and looks premium. Riding and ownership experience will be enhanced through the dedicated mobile application. It also offers the keyless ignition function. Bajaj Chetak electric scooter has Li-ion battery and it’s not swappable. Scooter buyer also can opt for the charging station fitted at home. Battery pack will be IP67 rated so there will be no harm when it driving through the water or in case accidently battery or scooter submerged into water up to one meter depth.

Chetak Electric Yatra :

Chetak Electric Yatra flag-off from Delhi

Mr. Nitin Gadkari also flagged off the Chetak Electric Yatra from Delhi O’beroi Hotel (Chetak Electric Launch event location). 20 riders will be riding the Bajaj Chetak electric scooter from Delhi to Pune and will be covering 3000km each.

During the launch event Amitabh Kant CEO of the ‘NITI Aayog’ said- 

Amitabh Kant at Bajaj Chetak Electric Scooter Launch Event

I am a great believer in the fact that the future will be shared, connected and an EV world. There is no doubt about it. We are in the midst of the biggest disruption in the mobility world that is taken place across the world and whether we like it or not this disruption will take place. The world will move away from the combustion engine, from two thousand parts to 20 odd parts and the cost of the battery will fall radically from $ 176kW/hr. It has fallen from close to $1100kw/hr. to $176kW/hr. but in 3 years time, it will definitely come down to $75kW/hr. and at that point, the combustion engine car will be par with the electric vehicles. Therefore the cost of electric vehicle and the cost of ownership will be low and the consumer will go for it. Until then we didn’t care about this new era of mobility now its time for India become the champion for the electric two-wheeler and three-wheelers in the whole world. This is a massive opportunity for India.

Final launch and Price:

The final launch of the Bajaj electric scooter will be in January 2020. Being one of the most popular and reliable brands across the many countries it is believed that Bajaj Auto will consistently monitor and enhanced the product quality. Parallelly manufacturing capabilities will be increased. Company is planning to launch the electric scooter in a phased manner starting from the Pune (India) and will further expand its market. This Chetak e-scooter will be made available through the existing Probiking network alongside KTM and Husqvarna.

Chetak electric scooter will be launched in India at an attractive price.

Mr Rajiv Bajaj said that the pricing is not going to be as high as Rs 1.5 lakh. Bajaj is going to price Chetak Electric Scooter quite attractively.

So, it is believed that probably it will be priced around 1.2L at launch in January 2020.

Manufacturing Facility:

Manufacturing location: Bajaj Auto CHAKAN PLANT (Pune, India).

All the electric scooter of Bajaj Auto Ltd. under ‘Urbanite’ brand will be manufactruing in Pune. 80% women employees are working in the Bajaj Urbanite electric scooter plant currently.

Bajaj Chetak

The Journey of Bajaj-Chetak:

Bajaj Auto Ltd. got the license to build two-wheeler and three-wheeler in 1959. Bajaj Auto Ltd. started working on Bajaj Chetak project in 1961 and launched the well known Bajaj Chetak in 1972. The “Chetak” name was a representation of the powerful horse of the renowned Rajput warrior and a king of Mewar Rajasthan ‘Maharana Pratap’. After launching, Bajaj sold 1 lakh number of Bajaj Chetak in the Indian market in just 05 years. And till 1986 total 05 lakhs, Bajaj Chetak was sold. In 1900s’ Bajaj used to sell 01 lakh units every month.

2 Stroke engine used to power the Bajaj Chetak until 2002 but after that 4 stroke engines were fitted into that.
Bajaj Chetak with 2 Stroke Engine:
2 Stroke Engine- 245cc ,
Power : 7.5 bhp@5500 rpm
Torque: 10.8nM@3500 RPM
Gearshift: 4 Speed Manual gear at left handle
Fuel tank: 6.5 L
Mileage: 40.23kmpl

Bajaj Chetak with 4 Stroke Engine:
4 Stroke Engine- 125cc
Power: 8bhp@6500
Torque: 9.4Nm@5000
Ground clearance: 140MM
Weight: 112 kg
Fuel tank: 4.5 liters
Top speed: 85kmph
Mileage: 30kmpl to 35kmpl

The downfall of the Bajaj Chetak and Bajaj Scooter Segment:

When the Bajaj Chetak entered into the Indian market in 1972 then there were no other players but very soon Lohia Motors collaborated with the Piaggio Italy brand and launched the scooter named LML Vespa. Up to 1986, Lohia Motors launched different models of LML Vespa scooter but it couldn’t affect the demand of the Bajaj Chetak. The real challenge for the Bajaj Chetak was from the fuel-efficient bike. In 1984 TVS Suzuki launched and again in 1985 Hero Honda launched the fuel-efficient bike ‘Hero Honda CD100″ in Indian market which was the real competitor for the Bajaj Chetak.

In 2000, Japanese brand Honda launched its most popular product ‘Honda Activa’ in the Indian market. Which was a gearless and light weight scooty.

Kinetic Honda and TVS scooty were the only key start, no more kicks were required to start the scooter. Hero-Honda became the top seller during the period of 2000 to 2003.

December 2006 Bajaj announced to discontinue the production of its trade-mark scooter Bajaj Chetak. As per the company statement “there was no more value remains of the product for the current customers.” Rajiv Bajaj has quoted that time- “Anyone who clings to the past is a Failure”. and In 2009 Bajaj closes its complete Scooter manufacturing segment.

Now, at present company has touched to the new horizon delivering the world class products to its customers. In January Bajaj Auto celebrated its achievement of delivering 2 millions two-wheelers across 79 countries and enjoyed the moment with the tag line of #WorldsFavouriteIndian. Here is the video released on this January-

————-