The electric vehicle avatar of Bajaj Auto’s iconic Chetak will be manufactured in a new EV plant in Pune’s Akurdi, which was also the site for the old Chetak factory.
Chetak Technology Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Bajaj Auto Ltd, inaugurated the newly built EV manufacturing plant on the birth anniversary of late Rahul Bajaj.
This inauguration is a homecoming in many ways because Akurdi is where the iconic Chetak scooter was born in the 1970s, and went on to become the most popular brand among two-wheelers in the country.
In October 2019, Chetak — developed after research and on-road testing — marked its return in an all-new electric avatar. Since then, the new Chetak has expanded its sales and service network to nearly 30 cities in India.
With over 14,000 Chetaks sold and more than 16,000 in the pipeline, the brand continues to attract customers seeking electric vehicles as a new option for personal mobility.
Keeping in mind the increasing demand for EVs in India, this plant’s capacity can be expanded to manufacture 500,000 electric two-wheelers per annum.
Speaking on the occasion, Rajiv Bajaj, chairman —Chetak Technology, said, “Chetak is the original ‘Make in India’ superstar, which won hearts worldwide.
“True to those roots, the electric avatar of Chetak is born out of our strong R&D, deep understanding of products and consumers, and decades of manufacturing expertise.
“Today on the 84th birthday of Bajaj Auto’s late chairman Emeritus Rahul Bajaj, we have delivered on our commitment to commission this centre of excellence for Chetak by June 2022. This focused, integrated and agile facility is intended to power the Chetak’s ride back to the future.”
Chetak Technology Ltd and its vendor partners will be investing nearly Rs 750 crore in this new EV plant. The plant is spread over half a million square feet and is expected to generate employment for 11,000 people.
The Akurdi facility is all set to be transformed into a major hub for the design, development, and manufacturing of electric vehicles.