5-6 Bajaj CNG Bikes In Development: Rajiv Bajaj

The CEO says the CNG bike will offer half the running costs (compared to a petrol-powered bike)

Update: The Bajaj Freedom 125 CNG Bike has been launched in India at Rs 95,000 (ex-showroom)

Rajiv Bajaj (CEO of Bajaj Auto) in a recent interview revealed that Bajaj plans to launch a new CNG bike every year. Along with this he also revealed details about the manufacturer's future regarding CNG bikes. 

The upcoming Bajaj CNG bike is set to be launched on June 18, 2024 and will be the first mass-produced CNG bike in the world. The public response to it will likely influence where Bajaj takes the idea of CNG motorcycles next. Rajiv Bajaj said, “...if the response is good, we will again, make it bigger, make it smaller, make it cheaper, make it more expensive”. 

He further stated that Bajaj is developing more CNG bikes  “...if I am not wrong there is 5 or 6 motorcycles of the same platform under development.”

Another interesting detail he revealed in the interview was that the upcoming CNG bike will be the first one or two that will be launched this year. 

The second one could likely be a slightly more premium offering  with more features than the standard variant, going by what Rajiv Bajaj said “...you know it’s always nice to introduce new technology on the back of something that is relatively sexy.....So it won’t be something cheap at Rs 70,000 like you have some of these electric scooters in the marketplace now”

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As far as public response is concerned, Rajiv Bajaj acknowledged that people still have their doubts about the CNG bike with many questioning the weight, balance and safety of a cylinder. With this in mind, the manufacturer is being a bit cautious regarding the bike’s production capacity.

Bajaj’s first CNG bike will likely come at a price of Rs 80,000 ex-showroom, and since it’s the first CNG bike in India, it won’t have any direct rivals. But the bike will go up against other commuter motorcycles in the 100-110cc segment including the TVS Radeon, Honda Shine 100, Hero Splendor Plus and Bajaj Platina 110. The CNG bike was spied recently, here’s our analysis, including the possible name of the bike.

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