Bajaj Auto has seen a growing demand for its electric vehicle offering – Chetak, whereby bookings have doubled from 3,000 units to 7,000 units in a month. The demand came about after Baja Auto reduced the price of the vehicle from Rs 1,40,000 to a starting price of Rs 1,21,933.
Rakesh Sharma, Executive Director of Bajaj Auto, said they have been able to redefine their cost architecture and re-look at their vendors for the electric vehicle business. He added that it allowed them to bring down the prices of Chetak.
Sharma said they are introducing a top-of-the-line premium Chetak in April. The EV will be an upgraded version. Bajaj Auto hopes to expand the Chetak range towards the second half of the next financial year.
Moreover, the company is planning to open exclusive showrooms across the country to popularize Chetak. Sharma shared that the showrooms will be digitally enabled and will be designed by the company to address consumer concerns about EVs. He said their objective is to build a sustainable business as there is a lot of uncertainty related to supply chains, the continuation of subsidy and the rate of adoption of in small towns.
