Bajaj Auto to set up a new EV manufacturing facility in Akrudi (Pune). The automaker will invest Rs 300 crore towards setting up the new facility. This EV Plant will help in Bajaj’s efforts towards increasing its electric vehicle production in India.
The original Chetak scooter was produced in the same factory that made Bajaj Auto a household name in India. This manufacturing plant is spread over half a million sq. feet and will generate employment for nearly 800 people to produce at least 500,000 EVs annually.
The new manufacturing plant will have cutting-edge robotic and automated systems for production processes. This includes fabrication, assembly, material handling, painting, quality assurance and logistics.
These systems have been designed for a flexible product mix while keeping in mind the best worker ergonomics and maximum process efficiency. Furthermore, the company’s vendors will increase the investment by Rs 250 crore to support the brand’s expansion plans.
The first vehicle from the new manufacturing plant is expected to roll out by June 2022. This new EV manufacturing facility is also home to the brand’s state-of-the-art R&D centre. With a combination of R&D and production in the same vicinity, Bajaj Auto aims for faster developments of EVs.
This will transform Bajaj Auto’s Akurdi Manufacturing lant into a hub for the design, development and manufacturing of a whole range of Electric Vehicle mobility.
Currently, Bajaj offers the Chetak Electric scooter in India. Due to the low production, the scooter is sold via flash sales and is in serious need of production increase. The new facility will help combat the production issue and cater to the growing demand for electric 2-wheelers in India.
The Chetak is powered by a 3kWh Li-ion battery paired to an electric motor producing a max power of 4.08kW and peak torque of 16Nm. The electric powertrain features a maximum riding range of 95KM on a single battery charge.
Charge times for the battery is rated at 1 hour to achieve 0 to 25%. While a complete 0 to 100% charge takes up to 5 hours. The scooter is available in two variants: Urbane & Premium; and are priced at Rs 1.42 lakh and Rs 1.44 lakh, ex-showroom, respectively.
The scooter is currently available in Maharastra, Karnataka, Delhi, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Gujarat and Kerala. After the production goes live at the new facility, we can expect more states and cities to get added to the list and help compete better with the scooters rivals. The Chetak rivals the Ather 450X, Ola S1 Pro and the TVS iQube; among others.
Thoughts About Bajaj Chetak Electric Production & Sales To Increase Soon With New EV Manufacturing Facility
The EV industry in India is around somewhere close to 1% of the total automotive sales. The government of India is aiming at 30% EV penetration in the auto sector by 2030. Bajaj’s new production facility will boost the EV industry with faster adoption and manufacturing of electric vehicles in the country.