Bajaj eyeing to setup exclusive production facility for Chetak outside Maharashtra

- Bajaj intends to setup an exclusive facility for the Chetak electric

- Plans to move production outside Maharashtra

- Considering Delhi, Bengaluru and Hyderabad for the new plant

Bajaj Auto is planning to setup an exclusive production facility of its electric scooter, the Chetak. While it is currently manufactured at Bajaj’s existing Chakan facility in Maharashtra, the company intends to move the production out of the state. There are three locations under consideration for the same which includes Delhi, Bengaluru and Hyderabad. 

The revelation was made by Bajaj’s managing director, Rajiv Bajaj, during an interview with CNBC. The top honcho stated that the brand is currently displeased by the Maharashtra government’s approach towards the brand. The government had allotted an additional piece of land to Bajaj in Chakan for manufacturing expansion. However, after Bajaj delayed the execution of the expansion plan, the government demanded them to return a significant chunk of that land or to pay a very large amount of money for it. 

Now, the Chakan-based manufacturer is considering the aforementioned three cities to setup a new facility and is particularly encouraged by the policy environment in Delhi and Hyderabad. With a dedicated plant for the Chetak, the company intends to substantially ramp up its production capacity. And it goes without saying that the same plant will be used for manufacturing the future KTM and Husqvarna electric two-wheelers, about which we have told you in the past. 

The Bajaj Chetak electric is currently available only in Pune and Bengaluru. But the company aims to expand its retail operations to all the major cities in India over the next 12 months. The Chetak is available in two variants – Urbane and Premium which are priced at Rs 1 lakh and Rs 1.15 lakh, respectively (both prices are ex-showroom).