Bajaj small cars scheduled for 2012: Rajiv Bajaj

Bajaj Auto's, four-wheelers for both passenger and commercial segments which are under plans for launch in 2012 will use the Renault platform for production. According to Bajaj Auto MD Rajiv Bajaj, the platform was under development and it would share common aggregates, catering to requirements of passenger vehicles as also goods carriers.

''Our four-wheelers are due in 2012. It will be a new platform. But the project is a common one with Renault, and on a common platform. The basic structure of the vehicle - the engine, transmission, chassis - will be common,'' Bajaj told reporters at the launch of two new three-wheeler products.
Bajaj Auto had last September announced it planned to bring out three-wheelers under the Bajaj RE brand. Bajaj said the four-wheeled commercial vehicle could fit in the RE brand, while the passenger vehicle would not.

Bajaj said last year, that the company would be gradually phasing out the GC 1000 and Mega brands. According to R C Maheshwari, CEO, Bajaj Auto's three-wheeler business, the company had already phased out the GC 1,000 brand four months back and would replace it with another to revamp its three-wheeler line up.

The revamp involved the launch of two new platforms this quarter.

Meanwhile, the company's new RE passenger vehicles – the RE145 D and RE445M were unveiled at it Akurdi facility near Pune.

The RE145D that can run on compressed natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas and petrol versions would be priced at Rs97,973 (petrol ex-showroom Pune), the RE445M , available in diesel, will be priced at Rs1.21 lakh (ex-showroom Pune). Starting with Andhra Pradesh and Kerala, the vehicles would subsequently be launched across the country in a phased manner.