Bajaj Auto Limited is an Indian multinational automotive manufacturing company headquartered in Pune, Maharashtra. It is one of the largest manufacturers of two-wheelers and three-wheelers in the world and forms the flagship company of the Bajaj Group. Bajaj Auto designs, develops, manufactures and markets motorcycles, scooters, electric two-wheelers, auto rickshaws and quadricycles, with a substantial export footprint across Asia, Africa and Latin America.
Key facts
| Type | Public company |
|---|---|
| Industry | Automotive |
| Products | Motorcycles, scooters, three-wheelers, quadricycles, electric vehicles |
| Headquarters | Pune, Maharashtra, India |
| Parent | Bajaj Group |
| Founder | Jamnalal Bajaj |
| Listings | BSE, NSE |
Overview
Bajaj Auto operates manufacturing plants at Waluj and Chakan in Maharashtra, and at Pantnagar in Uttarakhand. Its product portfolio includes the Pulsar, Avenger, Dominar, Platina and CT motorcycle ranges, the Chetak electric scooter, and a wide range of passenger and goods three-wheelers. The company also produces motorcycles under licensing and partnership arrangements, including KTM and Husqvarna models for select markets, and Triumph motorcycles through a long-term partnership.
Background
The Bajaj Group was founded by Jamnalal Bajaj, a businessman and follower of Mahatma Gandhi. The automotive business grew under his son Kamalnayan Bajaj and later expanded substantially under Rahul Bajaj, who led the company for several decades and turned its scooter brand "Chetak" into a household name in India during the licence-raj era. The current management is led by Rajiv Bajaj as Managing Director, while Niraj Bajaj serves as Chairman.
History and timeline
- 1945: Originally incorporated as M/s Bachraj Trading Corporation Private Limited, initially importing and selling two- and three-wheelers in India.
- 1959: Obtained a licence from the Government of India to manufacture two-wheelers and three-wheelers.
- 1960: Became a public limited company.
- 1972: Launched the Bajaj Chetak scooter, named after Maharana Pratap's horse, which became iconic in Indian middle-class life.
- 1977: Began production of the Bajaj Super and the rear-engine auto rickshaw.
- 1986: Introduced the Bajaj Sunny and other models as part of an expanded scooter and moped lineup.
- 2001: Launched the Pulsar motorcycle, which redefined the Indian sports commuter segment.
- 2007: Took a strategic stake in Austrian motorcycle manufacturer KTM AG, later increasing its shareholding.
- 2008: Bajaj Auto was demerged; the two-wheeler and three-wheeler business was housed in the present Bajaj Auto Limited, while financial services and investment activities were spun off into Bajaj Finserv and Bajaj Holdings & Investment.
- 2012: Unveiled the Bajaj RE60 (later marketed as the Qute), a small four-wheeled quadricycle aimed at intra-city transport and exports.
- 2020: Re-launched the Chetak as an electric scooter, marking the company's entry into mainstream electric mobility.
- 2022: Inaugurated a dedicated electric vehicle manufacturing facility at Akurdi/Chakan, Pune.
- 2023–2024: Began manufacturing and distributing Triumph Motorcycles' new mid-capacity range under a global partnership with Triumph Motorcycles Ltd.
Operations and products
Two-wheelers
Bajaj's motorcycle portfolio spans entry-level commuters (CT, Platina), mass-market performance bikes (Pulsar), cruisers (Avenger), and premium machines (Dominar, KTM Duke and RC series, Husqvarna Svartpilen and Vitpilen, and Triumph Speed 400 and Scrambler 400 X manufactured at Chakan). The Chetak electric scooter is sold through dedicated retail outlets in major Indian cities.
Three-wheelers and quadricycles
The company is a market leader in the Indian three-wheeler segment, offering passenger and cargo variants powered by petrol, diesel, CNG, LPG and electric drivetrains. The Qute quadricycle is sold primarily in export markets and select Indian states.
Exports
Bajaj Auto is among the largest two-wheeler and three-wheeler exporters from India, with significant presence in markets such as Nigeria, Egypt, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, the Philippines, Colombia, Mexico and several countries in East Africa and the Middle East. Vehicles are typically shipped through the Mundra and Jawaharlal Nehru ports.
Significance
For much of the late 20th century, the Bajaj Chetak was synonymous with personal mobility for the Indian middle class, and waiting periods for the scooter often ran into years. Following the liberalisation of the Indian economy in 1991, the company transitioned from a scooter-led business to a motorcycle-led one, with the Pulsar establishing the modern performance commuter category in India. Bajaj Auto is also credited with mainstreaming the auto rickshaw as an urban transport mode across South Asia and parts of Africa. Its strategic partnerships with KTM and Triumph have given Indian manufacturing a substantive role in the global premium motorcycle supply chain.
Corporate structure
Bajaj Auto is part of the broader Bajaj Group, which also includes Bajaj Finserv, Bajaj Finance, Bajaj Holdings & Investment, Bajaj Electricals and Mukand Limited, among other entities. The company is listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange and the National Stock Exchange of India and is a constituent of major Indian equity indices.
Related topics
- Bajaj Group
- Bajaj Finserv
- Rahul Bajaj
- Jamnalal Bajaj
- Bajaj Chetak
- Bajaj Pulsar
- KTM
- Auto rickshaw
- Automotive industry in India
References
- Wikidata: Q10910065
- Bajaj Auto Limited — official corporate disclosures filed with BSE and NSE.