Bajaj CNG bike likely to be based on a 110cc motorcycle
Bajaj Auto is gearing up to introduce environmentally friendly and cost-effective alternatives in the coming years including a CNG bike. The company is now exploring a range of cleaner powertrains, including Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG), Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), and Ethanol blended fuel for its entire product portfolio, from two-wheelers to quadricycles.
Their main objective behind this initiative is to offer consumers affordable transportation options that not only reduce their running costs but also have a minimal impact on the environment.
In a significant development, Bajaj Auto is nearing the final stages of developing a CNG-petrol hybrid motorcycle, internally codenamed the “Bruzer of E101.” If all goes according to plan, this innovative product could hit the Indian roads within the next 6 to 12 months.
Prototypes of the 110cc CNG bike have already been created, with plans to initially produce it at the company’s Aurangabad factory, eventually expanding production to its Pant Nagar facility. The potential branding for this new offering is rumoured to be the Platina.
Bajaj Auto has a strong track record of adapting three-wheelers to CNG and LPG, commanding a 90 percent share of the passenger three-wheeler market.
Initially, the company planned to produce around 1-1.2 lakh CNG bikes annually. However, this number has been revised upwards to over 2 lakh units to meet the growing demand for cleaner and more cost-effective transportation options.
While specifics regarding the CNG bike’s features, pricing and launch dates were not disclosed, Rajiv Bajaj, Managing Director of Bajaj Auto, suggested that a CNG motorcycle could provide a solution to the affordability challenges faced by the 100-110cc segment. With support from the government, lower GST rates on CNG vehicles could help make these eco-friendly motorcycles more accessible to entry-level buyers.
Bajaj’s move aligns with the automotive industry’s wider push to reduce GST rates for cleaner fuels, supported by requests from major players like Maruti Suzuki.