Bajaj takes Lite bite of Tata pie

The car that has an uncanny similarity with Maruti’s Zen Estilo, will be developed jointly by Bajaj and Renault-Nissan at an upcoming plant at Chakan in Maharashtra. The company is conducting a feasibility study that will be completed by next month on the basis of which the car would be developed further. “This is definitely not the exact model that will finally be launched and it may see major changes,” said Bajaj Auto managing director Rajiv Bajaj. “The USP of this car will not be its price tag but its fuel efficiency. We are planning to bring out a car that will double the fuel efficiency figures of cars in the country today.”

The blitz into the passenger car space gives an interesting twist to the story of one of the best known auto companies in the country. “Not long ago, we were associated with scooters but we have seen hard times when the segment suddenly fell out of favour with the market. We now want to be a company that makes money and will do whatever it takes to achieve that,” Bajaj said adding that only big bikes and small car segments will continue to grow and that is where Bajaj intends to stay.

While no specifications of the car were disclosed, Bajaj promised it would be frugally built and will have a host of ‘firsts’ associated with it. And unlike Tata’s car, which is rumoured to arrive with a host of variants, this car will only come in one avataar.

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