Bajaj Auto, jo India ka sabse bada two- wheeler exporter hai, ab Swiss startup Micro Mobility Systems ke saath partnership ki baat kar raha hai. Yeh partnership electric quadricycles banane aur export karne par focus karegi. Bajaj Auto Micro Mobility Systems mein ek significant minority stake acquire kar sakta hai, Pune-based Bajaj Auto ka goal global markets mein electric vehicles ko expand karna hai. Yeh discussion KTM aur Triumph ke saath Bajaj Auto ke previous alliances jese hain, Yeh partnership Bajaj Auto ko global electric mobility market mein ek strong position de sakti hai. Micro Mobility Systems ke saath yeh alliance Bajaj Auto ko electric vehicle market mein growth de sakta hai. Bajaj Auto ka focus ab traditional vehicles se electric vehicles par shift ho raha hai. Is partnership se Bajaj Auto ko global electric vehicle market mein growth milne ki ummid hai. Bajaj ki partnerships KTM aur Triumph ke saath vehicle architectures aur powertrains jointly develop karti hain, jahan Bajaj Auto ka manufacturing base unke global markets ke liye export hub ka kaam karta hai.
Micro Mobility Systems AG, jo 1996 mein Wim Ouboter ne establish ki thi, ek Swiss company hai jo short-distance urban travel ke liye solutions develop and manufacture karti hai. Autocar Professional ki reports ke According, Bajaj aur Micro Mobility ke partners approx. ek saal se discussions mein hain. Micro Mobility ke founder Wim Ouboter aur unke 2 sons, Oliver aur Merlin Ouboter, ne Bajaj Auto ki Maharashtra factory visit ki thi, Oliver Operations Manager aur Merlin Marketing Manager hain.
Micro Mobility ke flagship products mein Microscooters, Microlino, aur Microletta jaise products include hain. Microlino ek two-seater electric quadricycle hai jo 1950s ke BMW Isetta bubble car se inspired hai. Microlino urban users ke liye ek sustainable, stylish, aur practical alternative hai traditional cars ke comparison mein, jo car ka comfort aur motorbike ki efficiency ka combination offer karta hai. Microletta ek three-wheeled electric scooter hai jo stability aur attractive design ka perfect combination hai, Yeh short commutes ke liye ek alternative offer karta hai aur scooters aur compact electric cars ke beech ek gap ke form mein develop kiya gaya hai. Micro Mobility ki financial information publicly available nahi hai, but it is believed that company tens of millions of euros ka turnover generate kar rahi hai. In the year of 2024, company ne aab tak apni 1,000th Microlino car (quadricycle) bana li hai.
Bajaj Auto main interest is in the Microlino model, jo European Union ke vehicle classification system mein L7e category ke under homologated hai, jisse yeh ek quadricycle maana jaata hai, not a conventional car.
L7e category heavy quadricycles ke liye hai, jinka maximum unladen mass weight 450kg (excluded batteries) hota hai aur top speed 90kph (56mph) se zyada nahi hoti. Microlino in weight aur speed ki restrictions ko follow karta hai aur saare EU electric vehicle requirements ko meet karta hai.
Microlino quadricycle ka unique access vehicle ke front se hai, but agar partnership successful hoti hai, then Bajaj Auto vehicle ka design change kar isse side access par introduce kar sakta hai.
What's the Bajaj plan to enter the micro mobility segment
So the plan is platform par electric aur conventional ICE (Internal combustion engine) powertrains offer kiye jayenge. multiple concepts ko explore karne ke baad, Bajaj Auto apne quadricycle mein twin-cylinder 650cc engine use kar sakta hai, jo Indian aur global markets dono ke liye hoga. "Sources ne yeh bhi kaha ki agar partnership successful hoti hai, then BAL ke under twin-cylinder 650cc engine par gasoline aur CNG quadricycles bhi develop and manufacture ki jayengi."
Micro Mobility Systems ke saath potential partnership ke baare mein send kiye gaye email query ka jawab dete hue, Bajaj Auto ke executive director Rakesh Sharma ne Autocar Professional ko kaha, "Hum aapke queries par koi comment nahi dena chahte. Is waqt yeh sabhi discussion premature aur speculative hai." (English translation in below)
We have no comment to offer on your queries. It would be highly premature and speculative to have any discussion at this time.
Bajaj Auto Indian 3-wheeler market mein ek dominant player hai, jiska market share 65 percent se zyada hai. Woh quadricycles ko ek category ke form mein banane ke potential ko lekar kaafi convinced raha hai aur bajaj ne lot's of attempts kiye hain jaise ki Bajaj Qute - but automaker ko zyada success nahi mil paayi. Usne Qute ko overseas markets mein export karne ki bhi koshish ki, lakin numbers ab bhi low hain. Company ne Qute ka EV version par bhi kaam kiya hai. Company ne Qute ka ek EV version par bhi kaam kiya hai.
News Source: autocar India
Image source: electrive.com