Freedom Jam

Bajaj Auto is looking to reclaim leadership in the entry-level two-wheeler segment with its first CNG-powered bike

- ASTHA ORIEL

"WE WANT TO return the favour to Hero and Honda after 30 years,” Rajiv Bajaj, Managing Director of Bajaj Auto, said during the launch of Freedom 125—the world’s first motorcycle to run on compressed natural gas (CNG). This could mark a defining moment in the domestic two-wheeler industry as Bajaj Auto looks to reclaim leadership in the entry-level two-wheeler segment.

Right up until the early 1990s, Bajaj Auto dominated the domestic market with its iconic Chetak scooters. But that changed when Hero Honda introduced the Splendor 100cc motorcycle in 1993. By 1997-98, Hero Honda overtook Bajaj Auto, mirroring a paradigm shift in the industry, which went from being 70% scooters to 70% motorcycles.