Bajaj’s Electric Motorcycle To First Go Overseas, Then Possibly India

Following Bajaj’s recent investors call, Bajaj CFO Dinesh Thapar has shared with ET Auto that the Pune-based brand is working on an electric motorcycle. Bajaj isn’t the only legacy two-wheeler manufacturer to tackle electric motorcycles, but unlike Hero MotoCorp and TVS, it is likely to play in a different space.

Thapar said, “Electric motorcycles are clearly under development and, all things going well, should start to see some launch happening sometime in FY28. Our priority on the electric motorcycle will likely be the export markets first and then the domestic market. Development work is already well underway, and we are beginning to see a clear timeline for when the product will hit the market.”

The intent of the Bajaj electric motorcycle is certainly targetted towards an international appeal. And while most might think of established motorcycle markets like Europe or North America, we do not think these will be intended regions. Performance electric motorcycles haven’t particularly been accepted with battery, range and weight limitations making them not so viable as a regular ICE motorcycle alternative in such regions.

If we were to look at where Bajaj excels is making products that offer a great bang for your buck. Hence, it enjoys a great presence in Latin American and African countries. Making an economical utilitarian electric runabout seems the logical choice to cater to certain regions. Also, the reason for going for an electric motorcycle and not taking a well appreciated scooter like the Chetak to such markets is pretty simple as the demands of these nations are quite different than ours. 

Currently in African nations, Chinese players like Spiro, Yadea, and Tycorn have been offering low-cost electric motorcycles that are primarily being used for delivery or ride sharing services. These products use battery-swapping architecture and look rudimentary and industrial. Given how the Indian electric space has shaped up, where cheap Chinese rebadged products have been shunned for quality indigenous offerings, expect Bajaj to apply the same logic for the electric commuter motorcycle. 

Plus, this would bode well for India in the future as well. We have seen start-up commuter electric motorcycle makers like Revolt and Oben Electric enjoy some form of success in the domestic market. While performance electric motorcycle players like Ultraviolette have certainly pushed the envelope when it comes to what one should expect from electric motorcycles, the sheer volumes of such adopters are limited. However, this will be a serious undertaking from a legacy player into accessible electric motorcycles, the first of its kind. 

Furthermore, with the new Delhi EV policy in place, electric offerings will be more in demand, be it scooters or motorcycles. This seems like a solid plan going forward for Bajaj to be ready for the inevitable day when it would no longer be able to sell its ICE products in the nation’s capital.

So, as much as the enthusiast was keen on some divine intervention for Bajaj to finally make the KTM e-Duke Concept a reality, the logical way for the company seems to be geared towards a massy appeal.

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