Bajaj Chetak to Become More Affordable Soon with New Variant Launch

Bajaj is working toward introducing the most affordable variant of the Chetak in India. With Ola and Ather now bringing in more accessible electric scooters as well as reducing prices after the expiry of the Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid and Electric Vehicle (FAME-II) subsidy on March 31, it is understandable that Bajaj is targeting a large chunk of buyers looking for affordable options. Bajaj will likely launch this new, mass-market EV under the Chetak brand next month.

Positioned under the Urbane variant, the new Bajaj Chetak variant will likely be priced at under Rs 1 lakh (ex-showroom). The price will include the EMPS (Electric Mobility Promotion Scheme 2024) subsidy, effective from April 1 to July 31, 2024. At a sub-Rs 1 lakh ex-showroom price, we expect Bajaj to offer its more affordable scooter with a smaller battery size and a hub motor. While the variant will likely look similar to other Chetak models, there is a possibility that you may find a monochrome LCD rather than a colour display. 

Bajaj Chetak Lineup in India

In the Chetak lineup, Bajaj Auto currently sells two electric scooters – Urbane (Rs 1.23 lakh) and Premium (Rs 1.47 lakh). Both prices are ex-showroom. The former is equipped with a 2.9kWh battery with an IDC-certified range of 113km on a full charge. In regular form, the Urbane has a 63km/h top speed, and gets only one riding mode – Eco. On the other hand, an upgrade to the TecPac enables you to reach a top speed of 73km/h. With the TecPac installation, you get two riding modes – Eco and Sport, hill hold, reverse mode, and smartphone connectivity.

Meanwhile, the latter, launched in January 2024, gets a new 3.2kWh battery pack with an IDC-claimed range of 127-kilometre. Thanks to an increase in battery capacity, a charge from 0 to 100 per cent takes 4 hours and 30 minutes. Also, the electric scooter's maximum speed has increased to 73km/h from 63km/h. 

In terms of market competition, the Bajaj Chetak goes up against the likes of the TVS iQube, the Ola S1, and the Ather 450S.