Bajaj Urbanite EV brand likely to launch next year in India focussing on advanced electric mobility solutions
Speculations regarding Bajaj’s electrifications plans have always been there in abundance on the internet. Less than a year ago, Bajaj Auto’s Managing Director, Rajiv Bajaj stated at the Annual General Meeting that Sumeet Narang would play an integral part in the Urbanite unit but details surrounding the operation have been scarce.
The brand will concentrate on developing urban mobility solutions with a futuristic approach for the domestic and international scenes. Bajaj, the leading exporter of motorcycles in India, has stayed away from scooter business for several years but the scenario could change with the zero-emission based Urbanite company.
Rajiv Bajaj had previously stated: “We believe in electric mobility strongly for two-wheelers and three-wheelers” and the electrified Qute will be launched around the same time as the deployment of the stringent BSVI emission standards coming into effect from April 2020. From next year, mainstream two-wheeler brands are expected to shift partly their focus on electric scooters and motorcycles.
The design sketches of the upcoming Urbanite scooter were leaked in February 2019 infusing any legitimacy into the myriad of rumours. Hot on the heels, a set of spy images of possibly the first Urbanite scooter indicate that a launch may not be too far away. The Urbanite brand could debut sometime later next year.
The test mules have been caught on camera in Pune. The pictures show the presence of sporty LED taillamp cluster and grab handles similar to the leaked sketches. Other expected features are alloy wheels, single-sided front suspension with anti-dive function, foldable footrest at the rear, single piece seat for a comfortable ride with premium textures, flowing bodywork in many areas and a curvy front portion among others.
Information related to the electric powertrain is not known yet but it will more likely be mated to a CVT transmission. The electrified scooter could come equipped with a fully digital instrument console with smartphone and Bluetooth connectivity alongside displaying navigation.
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