Bajaj Auto to introduce four-wheeler to SL

Bajaj Auto will commence production of its much-awaited new four-wheeler RE60 (product code) in the current financial year and Sri Lanka could well be the first market that the RE60 was exported to, Rajiv Bajaj, Managing Director of the Company said.

The Hindu newspaper quoted Rajiv Bajaj saying that “It could be Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Egypt or Nigeria — all markets where we export more than 1,000 three-wheelers a month. Although, last year, tariffs went up significantly for Indian products in Sri Lanka, we still sell 7,000 motorcycles and three-wheelers a month there.”

Bajaj said the company was ready to manufacture the RE60 in a few months time. “The RE60 will be made out of our facility in Aurangabad, which is an existing unit that was manufacturing scooters and has long stopped doing so. The initial capacity will be 200 vehicles per day or 60,000 per annum and can be expanded.”

He said that since the company was using existing facilities, it would save around Rs.300 crore in terms of investment. The RE60 was showcased at the Auto Expo earlier this year. It has a 216-cc petrol engine and weighs 398 kg.

Bajaj said the engine could be converted into LPG and CNG options while a diesel variant could be considered at a later stage.