Taking a look back at one of India’s most loved two-wheeler makers
One of the most prominent industrialists of India, Bajaj Auto’s Chairman Emeritus Mr Rahul Bajaj, breathed his last on 12th February 2022. Without his contribution, Bajaj Auto might not have touched the skies where it is flying as one of the market leaders in the current day and age. Following are some milestones that Bajaj Auto has had in its illustrious run to date.
Early Days Of Bajaj Auto
The company has been active since before the Independence of India
Under the watchful leadership of Mr.Kamalnayan Bajaj, the foundation stone of Bajaj Auto was laid on 29th November 1945. Initially, the company was named M/s Bachraj Trading Corporation Private Limited for selling licensed imported scooters and three-wheelers in the country.
The company gradually established itself as a maker of scooters and obtained a license from Piaggio make manufacture Vespa-based scooters in India in 1959. Bajaj Auto created a milestone by going public in 1960, after which a slew of new product launches happened.
The first product was the Vespa 150, which was the first scooter to come with the iconic rounded design for the side cowls and curved design for the front end. In 1972, Rahul Bajaj stepped in the shoes of his father, Mr.Kamalnayan Bajaj, as the new Managing Director of the company, post the latter’s death.
Soon after the change in leadership, Bajaj Auto launched its first self-developed product, the Bajaj Chetak, the design of which was on the lines of Vespa.
In 1977, after the licensing agreement between Bajaj Auto and Piaggio ended, Bajaj Auto expanded the lineup of scooters with the new Bajaj Super and Bajaj Priya.
The company then introduced step-through models like M-50 in 1981 and M-80 in 1986. In 1986, Bajaj partnered with Kawasaki in India and launched two motorcycles here, KB100 and KB125. With this move, Bajaj Auto reinvented itself from a scooter manufacturer to a two-wheeler manufacturer.
Bajaj Auto has become an automobile powerhouse over the years
Bajaj Auto introduced the Chetak in 1972, and the iconic Super in 1976. In 1977, the brand introduced the rear engine autorickshaw, which we know as RE today. Bajaj came out with the Sunny in 1990 and the 4S Champion in 1991. The Bajaj Classic came to the market in 1994.
The Bajaj Pulsar, which changed the Indian motorcycle scenario came in 2001 while an updated DTS-i model came out in 2003. Since then, many popular motorcycles like the Platina, Discover, Dominar and others were introduced.
The scooters, which made Bajaj Auto extremely popular slowly went out of production as the motorcycles gained more popularity.
Who is the CEO of Bajaj Auto?
In 2005, Rahul Bajaj stepped down as the Managing Director of Bajaj Auto, after which his son Rajiv Bajaj succeeded him. The company then split into three corporate entities – Bajaj Auto Limited (BAL), Bajaj Finserv Limited (BFL), and Bajaj Holdings and Investment Limited (BHIL), on 26th May 2008.
Rajiv Bajaj continued to be the Managing Director of Bajaj Auto Limited, and he is currently serving the position. He also happens to be the CEO of Bajaj Auto Limited
Is KTM owned by Bajaj?
In 2007, Bajaj Auto bought a stake of 14.5 percent in KTM AG through its Dutch subsidiary, Bajaj Auto International Holding BV. Bajaj Auto kept increasing its share in the subsidiary, which now stands at 48 percent.
The rest 52 percent of the stake is with Pierer Mobility AG from Austria. While Bajaj Auto has a significant share of 48 percent in KTM AG, it is a non-controlling share, with the majority of the company still owned by Pierer Mobility AG.
And KTM (SWIPE UP to know how Bajaj got 48% stake)
Under this partnership, Bajaj Auto introduced several entry-level performance motorcycles from KTM in India, with the first one being the Duke 200 launched in 2012. Later on, the portfolio of KTM expanded in India with Duke 390, RC 200, RC 390, Duke 125, Duke 250, RC 125, 390 Adventure, and 250 Adventure.
KTM also has a controlling stake in the Swedish motorcycle brand Husqvarna, and it launched two motorcycles like Svartpilen 250 and Vitpilen 250 here.
One of the largest motorcycle manufacturers of Europe, KTM AG was formed in 1992, when its parent company split into four entities – KTM Sport motorcycle GmBH, KTM Fahrrad GmBH, KTM Kuhler GmBH and KTM Werkzeugbau GmBH. Out of these four entities, KTM Sport motorcycle GmBH was eventually renamed KTM AG, which now makes a range of sports bikes, off-road motorcycles, and sports cars.
Is Kawasaki owned by Bajaj Auto?
And it has partnered with leading motorcycle manufactures like Kawasaki
The short answer to this is – No. Formed in 1960, Kawasaki’s motorcycle division is a part of Kawasaki Heavy Industries – a company founded in Japan back in 1896 by Shozo Kawasaki. Kawasaki’s motorcycle division is currently a 100 percent subsidiary of Kawasaki Heavy Industries.
Bajaj Auto has had a long-term relationship with Kawasaki in India. Both the brands joined hands in India in 1984. As a result of this partnership, Bajaj Auto introduced two motorcycles co-branded with Kawasaki in 1986, the KB100 and KB125.
It was not an equity deal, and Kawasaki only partnered with Bajaj Auto as a technology supplier. For almost 14 years, both the companies made Kawasaki-Bajaj branded models like Boxer and Eliminator. This association of Kawasaki and Bajaj as technology-sharing partners ended in 1999.
Both Bajaj Auto and Kawasaki again joined hands in 2009, when Kawasaki decided to enter India as a mainstream brand on its own. This time, the partnership accounted for sales and after-sales service of Kawasaki motorcycles through the Pro-biking network of outlets of Bajaj Auto.
The first motorcycle to launch under this new partnership was Kawasaki Ninja 250. In 2012, Bajaj Auto began selling KTM Duke 200 in its Pro-biking outlets alongside Kawasaki models like Ninja 300, Ninja 650, and ER-6n.
The more value-for-money-oriented motorcycles from KTM encouraged Bajaj Auto to divert their focus more on KTM over Kawasaki.
As a result, Kawasaki decided to stop selling its motorcycles through Bajaj Auto’s Pro-biking outlets in 2017 and decided to go solo under its new chain of self-reliant outlets under India Kawasaki Motors. Wholly owned by Kawasaki Heavy Industries, India Kawasaki Motors now has its manufacturing plant and dealer network in India.
The partnership between Bajaj Auto and Kawasaki has ended in India. But, both the companies are still working together in many other countries.
The manufacturer sells motorcycles over 70 countries around the world
Apart from India, Bajaj Auto now has a presence in around 70 countries, around the world. The Indian two-wheeler manufacturer has expanded its business worldwide in a decade.
Bajaj Auto currently is one of the most prominent motorcycle brands in countries around the world.
Africa
- Egypt
- Nigeria
- Uganda
- Morocco
Latin American
- Mexico
- Argentina
- Honduras
- Colombia
Asia
- Iran
- Nepal
- Sri Lanka
- The Philippines
When did Bajaj Auto go public?
From dominating the scooter market to the motorcycles, Bajaj Auto is success story
After gaining a license from the Government of India for manufacturing vehicles and a manufacturing license from Piaggio to make Vespa-branded scooters in India in 1959, Bajaj Auto went public in 1960. The company was renamed Bachraj Trading Corporation Private Limited to Bajaj Auto Limited.
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Keyword: Bajaj Auto History