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Bajaj has suspended bookings of the Chetak
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Production of the scooter has also come to a halt
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Bookings made until February 29 will be shipped to dealers only by September 2020
Following the relaxation of the lockdown, Bajaj Auto resumed operations at a number of its facilities across India. However, the Chetak website says that manufacturing is still on hold and this has resulted in a delay in deliveries. As a result, Bajaj has also suspended new bookings for its electric scooter.
The bookings section of the Chetak website reveals that shipments of the Chetak Premium to dealers have begun, while those of the lower-spec Chetak Urbane will only begin in June. It also mentions that bookings made before February 29, 2020 will only be shipped by September, which is quite a long wait.
It’s also implied there will be long waiting periods for bookings made now and in the future. A dealer we spoke with in Bengaluru has told us that the Chetak is yet to be delivered even to customers who placed their orders back in February. That’s well before the first national lockdown was imposed.
The Chetak is currently available only in Bengalruru and Pune, with sales scheduled to expand to other cities based on customer feedback. Considering the way things have panned out, Bajaj's plans to expand are also expected to be delayed.
Ved Janve
Dinshaw Magol
