Bajaj Auto plans two Chetak launches as it scales exclusive EV retail network

Bajaj Auto will introduce two Chetak electric scooters in the next six months while expanding its store-led EV strategy. About 80% of Chetak sales already come from 550 exclusive outlets, as the company targets market leadership without compromising profitability.

— Source publishedTue, 21 Jul, 2026, 17:41 IST·First seen Tue, 21 Jul, 2026, 17:54 IST·Source Business Standard · Companies

What happened

Bajaj Auto aims to lead India’s electric-scooter market while protecting margins, with two Chetak launches due within six months. It will expand its

Key facts

  • Two new Chetak products planned over the next six months
  • Five Chetak models currently span the 2501 and 3501 series
  • 80% of Chetak sales come through 550 exclusive Chetak stores
  • EVs account for about 30% of Bajaj Auto's domestic revenue
  • 40,000-50,000 electric scooters sold monthly
  • Electric models represent about 24% of India's scooter market
  • Electric models represent about 45% of the L5 three-wheeler market
  • 30,000-40,000 e-rickshaws sold monthly
  • About 90% of e-rickshaws use lead-acid batteries
  • Domestic motorcycle industry grew about 8% in the quarter
  • 150-250cc motorcycle segment is growing more than 20%
  • Domestic demand forecast to grow around 8-10%
  • Exports increased from about 200,000 to 250,000 units monthly

Why this matters

Bajaj’s store-led EV expansion raises the strategic value of partnerships, retail real estate, charging ecosystems, and specialist capabilities that can accelerate premium electric two-wheeler reach.

What to watch

  • Monthly VAHAN electric two-wheeler registrations and Chetak's share relative to TVS iQube, Ather, Ola and Hero Vida.
  • Launch timing, ex-showroom pricing, certified range, battery warranty and charging specifications of the two new Chetak products.
  • Growth in exclusive Chetak outlet count, geographic expansion and sales per outlet.
  • Dealer inventory levels, delivery waiting periods and evidence of discounting or financing subvention.
  • Customer reviews on service turnaround, spare-parts availability, software reliability and real-world range.
  • Changes in central or state EV incentives, registration fees, financing rates or battery-safety regulation.
  • Bajaj Auto commentary on EV gross margin, breakeven trajectory and capacity utilization.
  • Launch the two Chetak variants with differentiated price points, range and battery options rather than incremental cosmetic upgrades.
  • Add exclusive EV outlets selectively in high-registration urban clusters, prioritizing service throughput and dealer economics over headline store count.
  • Increase financing, exchange and subscription-style offers to reduce upfront-price friction without broad list-price cuts.
  • Expand fast-moving spare-parts availability and technician capacity, making service turnaround a competitive advantage.
  • Use existing Bajaj dealer infrastructure for back-end support while keeping the consumer-facing Chetak experience premium and dedicated.
  • Monitor competitor discounting and adjust variant mix or finance support before cutting sticker prices.