Taking you back in time with an outline of the history of Bajaj - India's largest export of motorcycles
Bajaj Auto Limited, owned by the conglomerate Bajaj Group, is founded in 1945 and it is one of the top bike companies in the world. Apart from manufacturing motorcycles, it also produces scooters, auto rickshaws, and recently, cars. Bajaj Auto is founded by Jamnalal Bajaj, in Nov. 29 1945, and it was then named Bachraj Trading Corporation Private Limited. It currently has three plants in India, but is prominent in countries such as Africa and South East Asia.
The company had its humble beginnings – by importing two and three wheelers within India. 14 years after the company started, Bajaj obtained a license to manufacture two-wheelers and three-wheelers from the Government of India. In the next year, it became a public company and the 100,000th scooter was made available to the market a decade later.
In 1971, a three-wheeled goods carrier was launched. In the next few years, the company commenced exports of scooters and 3 wheelers to various countries such as Yemen and Australia, collaborated with overseas countries, and launched the rear engine rickshaw.
In 1981, the Bajaj M-50 was introduced to the masses. Shortly after the inauguration of Waluj, a plant where motorcycles such as Platina, Boxer, and three-wheelers are currently manufactured, the Bajaj M-80 was launched.
Within the next decade, the company continued to roll out new models of motorcycles, such as the Bajaj Classic and Bajaj Sunny. However, production for both bikes has been discontinued. Bajaj Auto celebrated its 50-year anniversary in 1995 and agreements were signed with the Kubota of Japan and Tokyo R&D for the development of diesel motors for three-wheelers, as well as gearless scooters and mopeds respectively. In the years coming to the 2000s, the company launched vehicles such as the RE diesel auto rickshaw, and a new 4-stroke motorcycle. Operations at Chakan, one of Bajaj Auto’s manufacturing plants, commenced as well.
Video of History of Bajaj Auto:
From the years 2000- 2010, Bajaj Auto launched a slew of vehicles. In 2003, the company released the GC 1000, a diesel goods carrier, as well as the Pulsar Digital Twin Spark Ignition (DTS-i) technology. Some more vehicles launched are the Bajaj Avenger DTS-i, Platina motorcycle, and Discover 150, in 2005, 2006 and 2010 respectively. In 2009, there were upgrades for the Pulsar 150 and 180 to boot.
In 2007, Bajaj acquired a 14.5% stake in KTM Power Sports AG, an Austrian sports car and motorcycle manufacturer. Bajaj will be in charge of the sales of KTM products in South-East Asia and India, while KTM will provide the expertise pertaining to the combined development of liquid-cooled four stroke 125 and 250cc engines.
In 2011, Bajaj managed to export more than a million motorcycles during that same year. In the following year, Bajaj tied up with State Bank of India to offer inventory finance to its dealers, and Japan’s Kawasaki in Indonesia for distribution. India’s first Quadricycle, the Qute, was also unveiled that year during an Auto Expo, an automotive show held in India. The ~216cc bike is about ¾ the size of a small car and gives auto-rickshaw drivers a safer alternative in the Qute.
Bajaj Motorcycle List:
(Images: Bajaj Auto)