Just when we assumed that the race for manufacturing cheap cars was starting to settle down, up comes another announcement. Automobiles Planet is reporting that Rahul Bajaj, chief of Bajaj Autos, announced yesterday that Bajaj will manufacture a 4-wheeler apart from the ULC (Ultra Low Cost) or Bajaj Lite that was showcased at the Delhi AutoExpo earlier this year. We naturally assume that he’s talking about a car, as he mentions ‘independent of Nissan-Renault joint venture,’ with whom Bajaj is presently working with to develop the Lite/ULC
The Bajaj ULC or the Bajaj Lite is on its path to reach its production line by the year 2011. The vehicle’s design is done by French Auto giant and partner Renault, in the high security design centre, which was inaugurated in Mumbai in the last week of September this year. The ULC will retail at $2,500, and will be contending for the ‘Better People’s Car’ title against none other than the Tata Nano.
If the sucess of bikes like the Pulsar and the Discover is anything to go by, we think Bajaj is very capable of making a comfortable, styling yet affordable vehicle which will appeal to entry level car buyers.
IAB Comment- No details have surfaced but we reckon it’s going to be another low-cost car for the Indian Janta. The Bajaj Autorickshaw has aged, and Bajaj should try and make a modern, more efficient and stylish Autorickshaw like the TVS King. Apart from that, this is the right time to build a flexible platform that can spawn anything from cars to LCV’s. We cannot wait to see what’s up Bajaj’s sleeve.
[...] – Bajaj says it will build cars other than ULC [...]