Bajaj Auto is developing an all-new electric motorcycle platform as part of what Executive Director Rakesh Sharma calls a “vigorous R&D push.” The homegrown programme, being designed and engineered entirely in-house, will cater to a wide range of segments — from entry-level commuters to high-performance machines — signalling the next phase in Bajaj’s electric mobility strategy.
- Bajaj Auto confirms development of a new in-house electric motorcycle platform.
- Executive Director Rakesh Sharma says the company’s R&D push spans from commuter bikes to high-performance models.
Bajaj’s next phase in electric mobility
Rakesh Sharma says company leveraging ICE expertise and Chetak learnings for upcoming e-motorcycles
The move comes as competition in the electric two-wheeler space intensifies. Royal Enfield recently showcased its second electric prototype at EICMA 2025 in Milan, while startups like Ultraviolette, Revolt and Oben continue to build early momentum.
Speaking during the company’s Q2 FY26 earnings call, Sharma said Bajaj has a “vigorous R&D effort” focused on multiple electric motorcycle use cases. “There are some use cases, both in the entry-level and high-end sporting space, in India and globally,” he said. “But these are very difficult to predict. Still, we are in this game.”
He added that the company wants to be prepared across potential demand scenarios. “Nobody can say with certainty that it will be a bullseye or not. But I think there is a greater loss from missing out on an opportunity than investing in something that doesn’t realise,” Sharma said.
The electric motorcycle project is being developed entirely in-house, drawing on Bajaj’s core engineering expertise from its ICE motorcycle lines and leveraging the learnings from Chetak Technology Ltd (CTL) — the subsidiary that successfully revived Bajaj’s electric scooter business.
However, unlike the scooter space — where Bajaj's Chetak recently reclaimed the top spot on the Vahan retail charts — the electric motorcycle market remains nascent.
According to industry estimates, e-motorcycles currently account for less than 1% of total EV two-wheeler sales in India, constrained by high battery costs, limited range, and an absence of affordable mid-performance offerings.
The initiative complements Bajaj Auto's broader EV roadmap — which includes expanding the Chetak portfolio, new three-wheeler EVs, and export-focused small-format electrics — as the company seeks to strengthen its position across the clean mobility value chain.
For Bajaj, the electric motorcycle push is not a pivot but an evolution — a calculated bet that ensures it remains in the race when the category finally takes off.
With inputs from DARSHAN NAKHWA