Classic to Electric:
The Majestic Journey of Bajaj-Chetak

We all know today’s Bajaj – Chetak as an electric scooter but this is not how the journey of Chetak was started. Before starting about Chetak, we must know how Bajaj Auto started then we will revisit the majestic journey of Bajaj’s old Chetak and the current scenario of the EV – Chetak.

Introduction:

The Bajaj Chetak scooter, once a symbol of trust and pride for Indian families, dominated the roads and the hearts of millions. Chetak’s journey from a humble start during the License Raj to cultural icon with the legendary ‘Hamara Bajaj’ tagline is nothing short of remarkable. Let us ride through the incredible journey of this two-wheeler legend—past, present, and future.

Starting of Bajaj:

Jamnalal Bajaj established M/s Bajaj Trading Corporation Private Limited On 29^th November 1945. Initially Bajaj used to import 2-wheeler & 3-wheelers.

In the year 1959 Bajaj secured the license to manufacture the 2-wheelers and 3-wheelers. Procuring this manufacturer’s license during the License Raj was very tough work.

Born of Bajaj Chetak:

In the year 1972, Rahul Bajaj introduced a scooter which was nothing but a license copy of Italian manufacturer Piaggio – Vespa Sprint with some minor twerks according to Indian road conditions.

Bajaj Auto named their scooter after Maharana Pratap’s horse, ‘Chetak’ which he rode in the battle of Haldighati. And since then, the majestic journey of Bajaj – Chetak had been started.

Chetak had a 145cc – 2 Strock engine with a 4-speed transmission. Which used to produce 7 bHp at 5500rpm.

Rise of Chetak:

That time (in early 70s) there were only few main motorcycles in the Indian two-wheeler market Rajdoot, Royal Enfield – Bullet & Jawa. Those bikes were pretty costly to buy along with very costly maintenance. So, Bajaj positioned ‘Chetak’ by remembering the needs and affordability of a middle-class family.

Bajaj – Chetak was reliable not only for town but also for the village roads. Chetak was very affordable to buy and it was vey low maintenance. It was like a go to solution of every middle-class family. People trusted Chetak so much that a man, his wife and their 3 children can sit on this though it was not safe for anyone.

Chetak was a massive success from its beginning beside that their advertisement where the tag-line ‘Humara Bajaj’ played a significant role in Chetak’s sales too.

1980s was the golden period for Bajaj – Chetak. The demand was so high that the waiting period went up to 10 years. To counter that Bajaj started taking government approved foreign currency $500/customer. But the demand was still out of control. Around 1987 Bajaj Auto ended the scheme of buying Chetak with the foreign exchange.

Bajaj – Chetak was the first choice of a very unfortunate event ‘dowry’ in marriages. There were rumours that because of late delivery of Chetak the entire marriage had been postponed.

Now you may ask, ‘why there was no increase in production to meet the demand?’

Well, the answer is simple all because of the License-Raj. Due to this License-Raj the production was limited to only 20,000 units/year.

Downfall of Chetak:

When ‘License-Raj’ ended foreign players like Honda, Yamaha entered in the Indian market along with their Indian alai. Yamaha introduced RX-100 & Hero Honda introduced CD-100. Which was low cost and had a better fuel efficiency.

But 1^st downfall of Chetak started in May 1999 when Honda introduced Activa with smaller engine & 1^st in kind electric start technology. And the most important thing about Activa, it was gearless.

Bajaj tried to revive ‘Chetak’ by changed the engine from a 2 Strock engine to a 4 Strock engine. But this won’t helped Chetak. Finally in the year 2006 the journey of Bajaj – Chetak came to an end.

Reborn of Bajaj – Chetak:

Chetak had ruled an era so, Bajaj tried to recreate that majestic era by introducing ‘Chetak’ in an EV avatar. Bajaj 1^st unveiled electric Chetak on 16^th October 2019. And the production started on 25^th September 2019. Bajaj inaugurated their new EV manufacturing plant at Pune’s Akurdi on the birth anniversary of Rahul Bajaj in October 2019. The manufacturing plant has a capacity to manufacture 500,000 electric two-wheeler per annum.

Despite of all these Bajaj failed to bring the charm that the original Chetak had. But Bajaj is trying their best just few days ago on December 2024 Bajaj introduced a new model of Chetak.

Conclusion:

The Bajaj Chetak’s journey shows innovation, nostalgia, and resilience. The original Chetak defined an era for Indian families, starting as a dependable two-wheeler during the License Raj and eventually becoming a household name with unparalleled popularity. While its collapse in front of modern competition marked the end of an iconic era, its rebirth as an electric scooter demonstrates Bajaj’s commitment to embracing the future while honouring its rich history.

Though the electric Chetak has yet to capture the same magic as its predecessor, Bajaj’s ongoing efforts provide hope for the future revival of this legendary brand. As we move towards a sustainable future, Chetak’s new electric avatar acts like a bridge between legacy and innovation.

Thanks for stopping by! If you loved this ride through automotive history, buckle up—there is much more ahead! From iconic classics to thrilling new-age machines, we’re just getting started. Want VIP access to our next adventure? Subscribe to our newsletter and get exclusive content straight to your inbox. Don’t miss out—join the journey and let’s keep the engines roaring together!

— by Shubhradwip Paul