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      New Yamaha FZS FI Deluxe – Detailed In First Look Walkaround

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      Image – MRD VlogsIndia Yamaha Motors has launched the new FZS-Fi range under its ‘The Call of the Blue’ initiative
      Yamaha has been regularly updating the FZ motorcycle range since launch in 2008. The most recent update was this month wherein the Yamaha FZS-Fi models come in with refreshed styling along with new colour options for 2022.
      2022 Yamaha FZ-S Fi and FZS-Fi Deluxe get new features and colour options and are priced at Rs. 115,900 and Rs. 118,900 respectively. These updates are a part of the company ‘Call of the Blue’ initiative and the models will be available at company dealerships from mid-January 2022.
      New Yamaha FZS FI Deluxe Variant
      The standard Yamaha FZ-S Fi is presented in two shades of Matte Red and Matte Blue. The more premium Yamaha FZS-Fi Dlx is being offered in three colours of Metallic Black, Metallic Deep Red, Solid Grey. The two new Yamaha models also receive feature updates. On the standard FZ-S Fi, LED tail lamps are the only update.
      The new Yamaha FZS-Fi Dlx gets some added features among which are coloured alloy wheels, new graphics, dual-tone seats, LED turn indicators and tail lamp, all of which play a major part in enhancing its premium appeal. Take a look at the detailed walkaround video below, credit to MRD Vlogs.
      [embedded content]
      The two new Yamaha models also receive Bluetooth enabled Connect-X App by Yamaha offering features such as Answer Back, Locate my Vehicle, Parking Record and Hazard and Riding History. Multi-function LCD instrument cluster, lower engine guard and a tyre hugging rear mudguard are also a part of the updates.
      Yamaha FZS 2022 – Engine Specifications
      Yamaha FZS-Fi and FZS-Fi Dlx see no change in their engine lineup. They continue to get their power via the same 149cc, 2 valve, single cylinder, SOHC Blue-Core engine offering 12.4 hp power at 7,250 rpm and 13.3 Nm torque at 5,500 rpm.
      The engine gets mated to a 5 speed gearbox. Suspension and braking are via telescopic fork in the front and pre-load adjustable mono shock at the rear along with disc brakes on both wheels with dual channel ABS.
      Yamaha Price Hike Jan 2022
      In related news, Yamaha India has hiked prices across range from 1st January 2022. Yamaha has a total of seven motorcycles in India among which are FZ Fi, FZ25, FZ-X, FZ25, MT-15, R15 V4 and R15S V3 and three scooters – Fascino, RayZR and Aerox 155.
      The reasons cited for this price hike is rising cost of raw material and a new safety regulation of foot rest that has been made mandatory. The price hike is at Rs 2,000 on Yamaha R15 V4 to Rs 1,72,800 while Yamaha FZ-X is also hiked by Rs 2,000 to Rs 1,26,300. The new Fascino has received a price increase of Rs 800 to start off at Rs 73,000 while price of the new flagship scooter Aerox 155 has been increased by Rs 2,000. More

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      Hero Electric Vs Hero MotoCorp In Court – Over Use Of Brand HERO

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      Image for referenceAs per legal agreement, Vijay and Naveen Munjal (father-son duo) were granted exclusive rights to use ‘Hero’ brand for their electric vehicles
      Around a decade back, the extended Munjal families parted ways and were given their respective ownership of businesses. Vijay and Naveen Munjal got ownership of Hero Electric whereas Pawan Munjal continued with Hero MotoCorp. As per claims, Vijay and Naveen Munjal have the rights to use ‘Hero’ brand to manufacture and sell electric vehicles in domestic as well as international markets.
      Hero Electric approaches Delhi High court
      Just a few years back, there didn’t appear to be any friction between the two Munjal families. However, things may have changed dramatically in recent times with growing interest in electric two-wheelers. With clear indications of things moving in favour of an all-electric ecosystem, Hero Electric is taking proactive steps to protect its turf.
      Hero Electric has approached Delhi High Court to prevent Hero MotoCorp from using the Hero brand name for its upcoming electric two-wheelers. This appears to be a pre-emptive move, as Hero MotoCorp has not indicated any plans to use the Hero nameplate for its upcoming electric two-wheelers. At least nothing has been revealed in public domain. However, as stakes are high, the fight over ‘Hero’ brand may intensify in future.
      Hero Electric Vs Hero MotoCorp
      While Hero MotoCorp is currently the largest two-wheeler manufacturer, Hero Electric has made significant gains. The latter currently leads in electric two-wheeler sales. One of Hero Electric’s USP is affordable pricing, which has helped boost sales. Moreover, Hero Electric has the first-mover advantage in electric two-wheeler segment.
      Hero Electric Scooter Dealer
      Ten years earlier, it may have been difficult to predict the dramatic shift to electric two-wheelers. As of now, one can easily visualize that the future will be an all-electric ecosystem. This may be one of the core reasons that may have revived the fight for use of ‘Hero’ brand.
      From Hero Electric’s perspective, they have the rights to use the brand for their electric vehicles. In case of Hero MotoCorp, it can be argued that the shift to electric is something beyond their control. Moreover, it is happening at national and global level and is linked to managing climate change. It would be unfair if they are not allowed to use the Hero brand for their upcoming electric two-wheelers.
      While Hero Electric has legal rights, the dramatic shift in industry ecosystem may warrant a review of the earlier agreement. It remains to be seen how the court takes a decision in this case. Both parties have refused to comment, as the matter is currently sub-judice.
      Hero MotoCorp has filed trademark for the name VIDA Electric
      Earlier, it was reported that Hero MotoCorp could launch its electric scooters and motorcycles under VIDA brand. The company is expected to launch its first electric two-wheeler in March 2022. Hero MotoCorp has partnered with Taiwan-based Gogoro to manufacture its electric two-wheelers. More

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      Upcoming Yamaha Electric Scooter Spied – Launch This Year

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      Upcoming Yamaha Electric ScooterYamaha is planning to set foot in the electric mobility space soon with the production version of the E01 electric scooter
      A concept version of Yamaha E01 was showcased by the Japanese brand more than two years ago at the 2019 Tokyo Motor Show. A couple of test mules of this battery-powered scooter have been caught on camera for first time.
      The latest spy shots show two heavily camouflaged test mules of the much-awaited E01 e-scooter going around in Japan. From the looks of it, the scooter appears to be more than just a prototype and could be a near-production model. Reports also indicate that Yamaha is planning to organize a media drive in Japan soon to get first inputs.
      Upcoming Yamaha Electric Scooter
      Although wrapped in heavy camouflage, the styling clearly resembles the E01 Concept presented a couple of years earlier. On a closer look, one might even find a hint of Yamaha’s flagship superbike YZF R1 with its design inspiration on the scooter’s fascia. Further, its proportions suggest that E01 will receive dimensions similar to the brand’s NMax maxi scooter.
      Though the final production-spec model is expected to be toned down with respect to the concept prototype, test mules of E01 flaunts a flat nose with a large apron which houses the twin-beam headlamps as well as the charging port. Attributes such as a single-piece, broad saddle and chunky grab rails on the floating tail section make the scooter a practical affair.
      Upcoming Yamaha Electric Scooter
      The maxi scooter styling ensures a large tunnel between legs of the rider which could host a decent sized battery pack. Other notable styling highlights include a large windscreen upfront, a rear tyre hugger attached to the swingarm, and heavily faired front body panel. Riding ergonomics are likely to be fairly relaxed with a wide, pulled back handlebar and centre-set footboard.
      2022 Yamaha Electric Scooter Features
      Coming to features on offer, it gets a simple fully-digital LCD instrument console which shares crucial information such as battery status, speed, etc. There are several tell lights on display- one of them shows a mobile phone signal thus, hinting at the bike’s Bluetooth smartphone integration. Other features expected to form part of the package include keyless ignition and multiple riding modes.
      As far as hardware is concerned, E01 rides on 13-inch alloys on both ends. The scooter is suspended on telescopic forks at front and twin shock absorbers at rear. Braking duties will be handled by disc brakes at both ends which will be aided by ABS. There are no official details from the company on its performance but experts believe it should offer a real-world range of 70-80 km on a single charge.
      Yamaha should offer multiple changing options on E01. Or it could also offer swappable battery tech which Yamaha is co-developing alongside other manufacturers on this scooter. India launch of this new electric scooter has not been confirmed. Yamaha India has plans to launch electric scooters in the future. More

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      Electric Two Wheeler Sales Dec 2021 – Hero Electric, Ather, TVS, Revolt, Bajaj

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      Ather Electric ScootersHero Electric and Okinawa head the list of two wheeler registration in the past calendar year
      The year 2021 has seen an exponential increase in demand for electric two wheelers in India. Overall electric two-wheeler registrations in the 2021 calendar year stood at 1,43,261 units with more electric two-wheelers sold in first half of 2021 than in all of 2020.
      This segment has started to emerge stronger and noting this increased demand, more automakers are joining the bandwagon. Total sales in December 2021 from each of the electric two wheeler makers on the list stood at 24,729 units.
      Electric Two Wheeler Sales Dec 2021 – Hero Electric in the Lead
      Hero Electric was a leader in this segment in the past calendar year. Total registrations through 2021 stood at 46,260 units allowing the company to command a market share of 32.3 percent. Taking only December 2021 into account, registrations stood at 6,058 units with market share of 24.5 percent.
      Hero Electric has noted outstanding demand for its Flash, Optima, Dash and NYX while the Photon is also a popular model in the company lineup. Hero Electric also plans launch the brand’s first electric motorcycle called AE-47 as on date, in the coming year expected to be priced between Rs 1.3-1.5 lakh.
      Electric Two Wheeler Sales in India – Dec 2021 and CY 2021. Source – Vinkesh Gulati / FADA
      At No. 2 was Okinawa Autotech with registrations of 29,945 units in CY2021. The company commands a 20.9 percent market share and the past month has seen registrations to the extent of 6,098 units. The CY2021 was particularly noteworthy for Okinawa as the company crossed the 1 lakh unit mark in terms of sales in India.
      Okinawa sales were dominated by iPraise+ and Praise Pro electric scooters. Noting this outstanding demand, the company now plans an investment of around Rs 200-250 crore on a new plant in Bhiwadi, Rajasthan with a target of 100 percent localization by end of FY2022.
      Ather Energy At No 3
      Next up was Bengaluru based EV startup Ather Energy, clocking registrations to the tune of 15,921 units in the January to December 2021 period. The company currently holds an 11.1 percent market share and has seen registrations of 1,810 units in the month of December 2021. Ather has only two models sale in India with the Ather 450X and 450 Plus both of which are priced at Rs 1,26,926 and Rs 1,07,916 respectively.
      At fourth and fifth positions were Ampere and Pure EV with registrations to the extent of 12,470 and 11,039 respectively. Ampere commands an 8.7 percent market share with registrations in December 2021 at 3,343 units. Ampere sells both electric 2-wheelers and 3-wheelers and its Magnus EX scooter is gaining in demand especially for the fact that it offers 100 kms ride range on a single charge. PUR Energy holds a market share of 7.7 percent and has seen registrations in December 2021 at 1,684 units. PURE EPluto scooter is among its most favored models in the PUR Energy lineup.
      TVS, Bajaj and Revolt
      TVS Motors, Revolt and Bajaj Auto followed in quick succession in terms of registrations in the past year. TVS registrations stood at 5,223 units with market share at 3.6 percent while Revolt sales were at 4,691 units with market share of 3.3 percent. Bajaj Auto finds most favour for its Chetak EV and had registrations of 4,619 units commanding a market share of 3.2 percent. The current Chetak Electric’s offers riding range of 95+ km/charge in Eco mode and 85+ km/charge in Sport mode while the company is in the process of introducing a more powerful version of the Chetak electric scooter generating better power.
      Registrations in the electric two wheeler segment continued with Being India with 4,439 units in the past calendar year followed by Jitendra New EV-Tech with 1,922 units registered and a market share of 1.3 percent. Lower down the order were Mew Electricals (1,831 units), Goreen e-Mobility (1,409 units) and KLB Komaki (1,175 units). Startups RGM, Elthor Energy, ECO Fuels and Ola Electric also saw sales of 407 units, 402 units, 278 units and 238 units respectively while there are other in this segment that had registrations of 992 units in the past calendar year. More

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      Ola Electric Scooter Production Nears 1,000 Units Per Day

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      Image – Prasad / Venus via @bhash
      Ola Electric claims to have dispatched all e-scooters to its customers but most of them are yet to receive one
      Ola Electric has been in the line of fire ever since the company failed to honour its first batch delivery schedule. After multiple delays, the Bengaluru-based EV manufacturer started dispatching its first batch of electric scooters from December 15 onwards.
      However, recently it was reported that only 275 units of S1 and S1 Pro e-scooters have reached their respective customers till December 31, 2021. Later, Ola CEO, Bhavish Aggarwal came out with a response on Twitter saying that scooters have been dispatched to all customers.
      Ola Electric Scooters Delivery Delay
      The tweet further informed that while some of the units are in transit or awaiting RTO registration process, most of the electric scooters reached the nearest delivery centres. Aggarwal revealed that there was some delay in registrations, as Ola is following an entirely digital process.
      The CEO of the ride-hailing app has posted another tweet in which he shares another important update. Ola is now manufacturing almost 1000 electric scooters each day. The Tweet was accompanied by an image of units of e-scooters parked inside the brand’s manufacturing facility called Ola Futurefactory.
      Ola Electric Scooter Production Update
      Aggarwal went on to reveal that the second window for purchase of Ola electric scooters for remaining customers will be opened soon. Like the first window, the second purchase window has faced several delays. It was initially supposed to go live on 1 November 2021 but was postponed due to an overwhelming demand from the first batch.
      Challenges Faced by Ola
      Ola Electric has adopted a completely new business model which doesn’t involve any dealerships or any intermediaries between consumers and the company. The firm is trying to maintain a direct chain of communication with buyers without having showrooms across various parts of the country which is new in itself.
      Sales are entirely online and the scooters will be delivered to customers at their address. After-sales services will be similar to onsite services currently available for appliances, electronic items, etc. Ola will also have to take care of other processes including shipment and RTO process which is a huge challenge in a country like India with such wide demography and different legislations.
      Ola Electric Scooter Boot Space
      On August 15 last year, Ola Electric launched its first range of e-scooters- S1 and S1 Pro which are priced at Rs 1.00 lakh and Rs 1.30 lakh (both prices ex-show) respectively. Both variants offer the same 5.5kW electric motor but provide different battery packs. While S1 offers a 2.97kWh battery, S1 Pro offers a larger 3.97 kWh unit. More

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      Royal Enfield Himalayan 450cc Launch Planned – KTM 390 Adv Rival

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      Image for reference. Credit – Bike Exif.A diversified portfolio with new products like Himalayan 450cc will help Royal Enfield to stay ahead in the game
      As part of its long-term strategy, Royal Enfield is working to launch an average of one new/updated product every quarter. One of these is Royal Enfield Himalayan 450, which is expected to be available for sale in first quarter of 2023. Although the basic silhouette looks familiar to Himalayan 411, Himalayan 450 utilizes an entirely new platform.
      Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 styling and features
      Codenamed K1, Himalayan 450 comes across as a premium Adv bike. It can emerge as a viable alternative to the likes of KTM 390 Adventure, BMW G310GS and other similar Adv bikes. The core Himalayan DNA is retained, as evident with features such as round headlamp and rear-view mirrors, raised front fender and matching frame construction.
      Use of spoke wheels, shod with knobby tubeless tyres is another feature that’s common to both bikes. Himalayan 450 is likely to use 21-inch front and 17-inch rear wheel, the same setup as that of current Himalayan.
      Just like Himalayan 411, users can expect relaxed riding ergonomics with Himalayan 450. It’s made possible with features such as centrally placed footpegs, thick saddle and pulled-back, wide handlebar. Upswept exhaust in metallic finish is another similar looking feature.
      Royal Enfield Himalayan 450cc Render
      In terms of things that give Himalayan 450 a unique identity, the bike gets a compact windscreen, trendier fuel tank design, and single-piece seat. It could be equipped with a new digital instrument console. The bike is likely to ditch much of the exoskeleton that can be seen with Himalayan 411. For users who may need it, the front and rear rack could be offered as an accessory.
      Royal Enfield Himalayan 450cc – engine and specs
      Powering Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 will be a liquid cooled, single cylinder motor that generates 40 bhp of max power. Just like other Adv bikes, Himalayan 450 will focus on delivering better performance in low and mid-range. As of now, torque for Himalayan 450 has not been revealed.
      Existing Himalayan is powered by a 411cc motor that churns out 24.3 bhp and 32 Nm. It is mated to a 5-speed, constant mesh gearbox. In comparison, KTM 390 Adv is powered by a 373cc motor that delivers 43 bhp and 37 Nm. It is mated to a 6-speed gearbox. BMW G310GS is powered by a 313cc motor that generates 34 bhp and 28 Nm. It is mated to a 6-speed gearbox.
      Himalayan 450 will be utilizing a trellis frame and is likely to be lighter than Himalayan 411. It will have USD forks at front, as compared to conventional telescopic forks used with Himalayan 411. Front suspension travel and ground clearance could be on the higher side. Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 is expected to be priced at around Rs 2.7 lakh (ex-sh). It will be cheaper than KTM 390 Adventure (~ Rs 3.28 lakh) and BMW G310GS (~ Rs 3 lakh).
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      Two Wheeler Sales Dec 2021 – Hero, Honda, TVS, Bajaj, Royal Enfield

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      New Bajaj PulsarThe two wheeler segment in India has posted 9.43 percent de-growth during December 2021 with only Royal Enfield noting increased demand
      Top 5 two wheeler makers in India have revealed their wholesales for December 2021. It may be seen that Hero, Bajaj, TVS and Honda have each posted a YoY de-growth while Royal Enfield sales increased 6.88 percent. On a MoM basis, it was Hero and Royal Enfield that saw better results.
      Two-wheeler buyers in India are turning a serious eye towards EVs to the extent that two wheeler segment is finding it difficult to keep up with increased demand being seen across the electric segment. Sales in the past month dipped 9.43 percent to 12,46,383 units, down from 13,76,180 units sold in December 2020. On a MoM basis as well, there was a de-growth of 2.49 percent from 12,78,224 units sold in November 2021.
      Two Wheeler Sales Dec 2021 – Total, Domestic, Exports
      Hero MotoCorp led the list of best-selling 5 two wheeler makers with sales of 3,94,862 units in the past month, down 11.73 percent over 4,47,335 units sold in December 2020. On a MoM basis, Hero sales increased 12.84 percent from 3,49,943 units sold in November 2021.
      In terms of domestic sales, Hero sold 3,74,485 units last month, down 11.89 percent from 4,25,033 units sold in December 2020. Exports were down 9.03 percent to 20,288 units from 22,302 units sold in December 2020 while MoM exports dipped 0.48 percent from 20,191 units shipped in November 2021.
      Two Wheeler Sales Dec 2021 – Total Sales
      Bajaj Auto followed at No. 2 with total sales at 3,18,769 units, down 5.85 percent over 3,38,584 units sold in December 2020 and down 5.82 percent from 3,38,473 units sold in November 2021. Domestic sales of Bajaj Auto dipped only marginally by 0.82 percent to 1,27,593 units, down from 1,28,642 units sold in December 2020.
      MoM sales however, suffered a greater decline by 11.98 percent from 1,44,953 units sold in November 2021. Exports on the other hand dipped 8.94 percent to 1,91,176 units in December 2021 from 2,09,942 units shipped in December 2020 and down 0.72 percent over 1,92,565 units shipped in November 2021.
      TVS, Honda, Royal Enfield
      TVS Motor wholesales stood at 2,35,392 units in the past month. This was a de-growth of 8.85 percent over 2,58,23 units sold in December 2020 and an 8.71 percent MoM de-growth from 2,57,863 units sold in November 2021. Domestic sales also suffered a de-growth at 17.04 percent on a YoY basis and at 16.58 percent MoM. However, exports increased 8.98 percent YoY to 88,,629 units in December 2021 from 81,327 units shipped in December 2020 and by 7.12 percent from 82,736 units exported in November 2021.
      Two Wheeler Sales Dec 2021 – Domestic
      At No.4 in terms of two wheeler wholesales was Honda with a 14.98 percent YoY de-growth to 2,23,621 units from 2,63,027 units sold in December 2020. It was also a 20.24 percent MoM de-growth over 2,80,381 units sold in November 2021. Honda has posted a YoY and MoM de-growth both in the case of domestic sales and exports during the past month. The company is also embarking in its electric journey and Honda has announced that it will introduce three electric two-wheelers in global markets by 2024.
      At No. 5 was Royal Enfield posting a 6.88 percent YoY and 43 percent MoM growth in wholesales to 73,739 units. RE has also seen promising domestic sales and exports in the past month specifically in case of the Classic 350, Meteor, 650 Twins, Himalayan.
      Two Wheeler Sales Dec 2021 – Exports
      Even as its YoY domestic sales dipped marginally by 0.47 percent, its MoM deliveries in domestic markets increased 45.41 percent to 65,187 units from 44,830 units sold in November 2021. Exports surged 144.13 percent YoY to 8,552 units in December 2021, up from 3,503 units shipped in December 2020 and 142.82 percent from 3,522 units shipped in November 2021. More

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      2022 Bajaj Chetak Electric Scooter Homologated – Gets More Power

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      Bajaj Chetak Electric ScooterShortage of imported components could be among the reasons for introducing more localization for Chetak
      Launched in January 2020, Bajaj Chetak electric scooter comes with USPs such as elegant design, sprightly colour options, metal body, connected tech and keyless start. However, as the pandemic began soon after its launch, Chetak wasn’t really able to unlock its full potential. Even now, shortage of semiconductor chips and other parts is being felt across the auto industry.
      2022 Bajaj Chetak with increased localization
      Things are expected to improve in future, as Bajaj is working on a new version of Chetak. It will have increased localization, which will reduce dependence on imported components. As revealed in Type Approval Certificate, one of the key changes is a new, more powerful motor. It generates 4.2kW of peak output and 4.0kW of max continuous output.
      In comparison, current Chetak model is powered by a Bosch-sourced motor. It makes 4.08kW of peak power and 3.8kW of peak continuous output. It is likely that other key components such as battery pack could also witness a higher level of localization. With the Type Approval Certificate in place, new Chetak could be launched soon.
      More affordable Chetak?
      One thing that’s not clear is whether 2022 Bajaj Chetak Electric Scooter will be more affordable than the current model. Usually, a higher level of localization helps to reduce production costs. Chetak can benefit from reduced pricing, as there’s intense competition in electric scooter space. There are multiple products that are not only cheaper, but also claim better performance and range than Chetak.
      2022 Bajaj Chetak Electric Scooter Homologated
      Bajaj Chetak is currently one of the costliest electric scooters in its class. Even with FAME subsidy, starting price is close to Rs 1.48 lakh in Delhi. At this price, it will be challenging to generate high sale volumes.
      For most buyers, a price of around Rs 1 lakh (including FAME subsidy) will be far more agreeable. TVS iQube is a good example, which is priced at Rs 1.01 lakh in Delhi (inclusive of FAME II subsidy). iQube and Chetak are not very different in terms of performance, range and top speed.
      One can also consider Ola S1 electric scooter, which is available for under Rs 1 lakh in several states. In Delhi, Ola S1 can be purchased at Rs 85,009 (effective ex-showroom including FAME II subsidy). It has better numbers (claimed) such as top speed of 90 kmph and range of 121 km.
      Bajaj new EV plant
      To strengthen its presence in EV space, Bajaj is currently building a new EV plant in Pune. The location is the same where original petrol-powered Chetak was once manufactured. New Bajaj EV plant is being built at an investment of Rs 300 crore (approx. USD 40 million). When working at full capacity, the plant will be able to manufacture 5 lakh EVs per year.
      EVs to be manufactured at the new plant include scooters, motorcycles and commercial vehicles. Apart from Chetak, Husqvarna electric scooter and motorcycles will also be manufactured at this facility. EVs manufactured here will cater to both domestic and international markets. More