The Bajaj Chetak Story: From Revival To Success

The Bajaj Chetak scooter made its debut in India in 1972 and was named after Maharana Pratap’s horse. The Chetak was essentially the Vespa Sprint which was manufactured under license by Bajaj Auto on the outskirts of Pune. The Chetak soon gained popularity for fuel efficiency, reliability and the ability to carry a large Indian family on two wheels and it ruled the two-wheeler market. Such was its vogue that at its peak the waiting period for the Bajaj Chetak was close to 10 years! Yes, sounds absurd in today’s 10 min delivery world, but that was the reality. 

The Bajaj Chetak’s golden rule was in the post liberlisation era as the cap on manufacturing was removed and the scooter was readily available in the showrooms. In 1998, 75 per cent of the Indian two-wheeler market consisted of scooters and Bajaj Auto’s share was close to 60 per cent primarily driven by the Chetak. However with stringent emission norms, emergence of gearless scooters and the gaining popularity of motorcycles meant, the Bajaj Chetak was losing its sheen and after a 33-year run, the Chetak was phased out in 2006.

The Revival

With Bajaj Auto focusing its attention on the motorcycle business and after Rajiv Bajaj’s famous statement of not entering the scooter space, it seemed that the name “Chetak” would be relegated to the pages of history. However, there was a twist in the tale and it came from the most unassuming segment - EV. Post 2015, electric two-wheelers were an emerging segment in the Indian market and many startups had cropped up. 

Bajaj Auto sensed an opportunity and brought back the Chetak brand in the form of an electric scooter in 2020. Bajaj had conducted a Bharat Yatra across the country and the Chetak scooters were ridden across the length and breadth of our nation to showcase its reliability. The ride ended at the Bajaj’s Akurdi plant and it was heartening to see all the riders being welcomed by Rahul Bajaj, Chairman Emeritus of the Bajaj Group for whom the “Chetak” brand was like his baby. 

The Struggle

The Bajaj Chetak wasn’t off to a flying start as expected by many and it was down to its cost. Since many of the components on the electric scooter weren't localised, Bajaj had to import them and this resulted in a very asking price. Making matters worse for the company was that since many components weren’t localised, the Bajaj Chetak didn’t qualify for any Government subsidy thereby resulting in a higher on-road price in comparison to its rivals. The Bajaj Chetak was also retailed via flagship stores which were limited and the scooter was only offered in a few cities thereby restricting its presence. 

Road To Success

While startups were ruling the Indian EV space with Ola and Ather dominating proceedings, Bajaj was quietly working on the Chetak. First step was to increase localisation and qualify for subsidy, which the company managed by 2021. Next step, which proved decisive for Bajaj Auto was expanding the retail of the Chetak at conventional Bajaj Auto dealerships, this opened a slew of new markets for the brand. 

At the same time consumers started appreciating the Chetak as the styling was modern and premium, while it was and still remains the only electric scooter to feature a metal body. Another aspect which helped the brand was nostalgia that many consumers carried for the Chetak badge and sales started to grow. It was around this time that Bajaj Auto MD, Rajiv Bajaj made a comment on EV rivals saying, ““We are champions… Champions eat OATS.” OATS here stood for Ola Electric, Ather Energy, Tork Motors and SmartE.

The turning point for the Baja Chetak came in December, 2024 when it outsold the TVS iQube to become the highest-selling electric scooter in the country. From December,2023 to 2024, sales of the Chetak grew over 70% and it cemented its name as among the most popular EV scooters on sale. From early 2025, TVS and Bajaj have been swapping the crow for the highest-selling electric scooter brand in the country and both the legacy brands have established in the Indian EV space. 

Also READ: Ola Electric Launches Shakti Battery Storage System from Tamil Nadu Plant

The Next Chapter

Bajaj launched the Chetak 35 series in early 2025, which got a new frame and the battery was positioned on the footboard. The 35 Series got a larger battery pack, more range, more storage space and faster charging with a competitive price tag. However, this was more of an upgrade than a proper update. The Gen 2 Bajaj Chetak will make its India debut on January 14. 

With the 2025 Chetak, the company is expected to restyle the scooter, give it new motor and battery packs, and more importantly bring the starting price of the electric scooter under ₹1 lakh (ex-showroom) as competition in the EV space is increasing. We will be reporting live from the launch event so make sure you follow the Acko Drive website and our social media accounts for the latest updates.