Bajaj’s e-Chetak will enter Europe by 2024 | Popgen Tech

The electrical Chetak has already offered almost 25,000 models in India, and the European model can be primarily based on the identical platform.

IMAGE: Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari and NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant pose with the Chetak. Within the center is Rajiv Bajaj, managing director of Bajaj Auto. Photograph: Courtesy, Nitin Gadkari on Twitter.

Iconic scooter model Chetak, resurrected by Bajaj Auto in its electrical avatar, can be offered in Europe by Pierer Mobility (the guardian firm of KTM) in early 2024.

On the sidelines of the one millionth KTM bike being rolled out from Bajaj Auto’s Chakan plant, Stefan Pierer, chief government officer (CEO), Pierer Mobility, stated he would take the Chetak to Europe in early 2024. “It is an ideal product,” Pierer stated.

Nonetheless, he added that part costs for electrical batteries have elevated five-six occasions within the latest previous. This is because of elevated demand and authorities stress to modify to electrical mobility.

Pierer additionally stated it was not possible for high-powered bikes to run on electrical engines. It’s because the burden of the battery required to generate equal energy from a gasoline engine can be too excessive. And moreover, bikes have an area limitation.

As for the electrical Chetak, which has already offered almost 25,000 models in India, the European model can be primarily based on the identical platform.

Bajaj Auto’s Chetak, named after the legendary horse of the good Rajasthani warrior Maharana Pratap, was produced from 1972.

It had a ready interval of as much as 10 years in 1980. Bajaj offered greater than 500,000 models of this iconic scooter by 1983, and round 100 million models by 1995. However because the years handed, competitors intensified, and by 2004, Bajaj discontinued the scooter.

In October 2019, the Pune-based two-wheeler producer relaunched the long-lasting scooter model in an electrical avatar. It’s presently provided in round 40 Indian cities and prices round Rs 1.4 lakh.

Bajaj Auto’s wholly-owned subsidiary Chetak Know-how (CTL) has arrange an electrical automobile plant in Akurdi, close to Pune.

In the meantime, Bajaj’s Chakan plant rolled out the one millionth KTM bike on Friday.

Rajiv Bajaj, Managing Director (MD) and CEO, Bajaj Auto, stated that when KTM and Bajaj tied up in 2007, the goal was to construct reasonably priced innovation that might take KTM’s model to all elements of the world.

“Fifteen years later, now we have not solely been profitable, however have additionally turn into strategic companions with a restructured possession,” stated Bajaj.

Bajaj acquired a 14.5 p.c stake within the Austrian bike maker in 2007. Through the years, Bajaj’s stake has grown to 49.9 p.c in KTM’s guardian firm Pierer AG.

India is already a significant sourcing hub for KTM. Out of the 370,000 models KTM offered in 2022, round 150,000 models got here from India.

“We additionally supply elements from India for EU operations – together with suspension and brake parts. Sourcing from India will solely develop,” Pierer stated.

In India and the neighboring markets of Sri Lanka and Nepal, round 50,000 KTM bikes are offered yearly. Pierer stated that whereas the primary million bikes took about 15-16 years, the subsequent million models will occur a lot sooner – inside 5-6 years.

Bajaj makes small-capacity KTMs and the sub-400 cc Husqvarna fashions at its Chakan unit. The KTM-Bajaj partnership would possibly look into bringing extra mid-range fashions within the 600-690 cc vary to India.