Bajaj eyes overseas growth as it targets top position for Chetak EV

Bajaj Auto aims to make Chetak a global electric scooter leader, expanding exports, boosting localisation and targeting the top spot in EV two-wheelers.

Bajaj Auto is looking to significantly scale the Chetak electric scooter business, with ambitions that extend beyond the Indian market. At the launch of the new Chetak C25 on Wednesday, Rishab Bajaj, General Manager for EVs and two- and three-wheelers at the company, said the electric scooter brand has reached mass recognition and is now entering a phase focused on leadership and expansion.

New Bajaj Chetak 2501

"It (Chetak electric) already is a household name... the plan we have charted out is to get to number one and a clear number one. It may not necessarily be even in India; it could even be in exports," Bajaj told PTI.

Export ambitions and global scale-up

He said the company is already supplying the Chetak electric scooter to select international markets and is assessing further opportunities as policy frameworks and demand conditions evolve.

"As policies change or as just generally even we see an opportunity for growth over there (in those markets)," he said, while declining to name specific export destinations under consideration.

Bajaj added that rising global electric vehicle adoption could support volumes outside India as well. "With EV penetration growing (and) if it grows like it is in India, the company will hopefully see good volumes for Chetak elsewhere as well," he said.

Localisation focus

Alongside exports, Bajaj Auto has been increasing localisation for the Chetak, with the objective of making the electric scooter range more self-sufficient within India.

The comments come at a time when India’s electric two-wheeler market continues to expand. Industry data shows that total EV sales in the country reached 2.3 million units in 2025, accounting for 8 per cent of new vehicle registrations. Electric two-wheelers led adoption with sales of about 1.28 million units, followed by electric three-wheelers at around 0.8 million units, while electric passenger and goods vehicles together accounted for roughly 1.75 lakh units.

Chetak C25 positioning

Electric two-wheelers achieved a penetration rate of 6 per cent in 2025, with market volumes concentrated among a handful of manufacturers. TVS Motor Company led the segment with sales of 3 lakh units, followed by Bajaj Auto at 2.7 lakh units. Ather Energy and Ola Electric reported sales of around 2 lakh units each during the year.

On the positioning of the newly introduced variant, Eric Vas, President – Urbanite Business at Bajaj Auto Ltd, said, "The C25 allows us to extend the Chetak portfolio to a younger, more agile use case, while continuing to deliver the trust and confidence that the brand has stood for over generations."