Bajaj Auto enters e-rickshaw segment with Riki launch

Bajaj Auto has launched its new "Riki" e-rickshaw series, extending its partnership with 3W drivers and targeting the e-rickshaw segment. The P40 series, starting with the Riki P4005, features a 5.4 kWh battery, a 149 km range, and is priced at INR 1,90,890/- (ex-showroom). The cargo model, Riki C4005, offers a certified range of 164 km and a 28% gradeability, priced at INR 2,00,876/- (ex-showroom).

The Riki models are designed with a monocoque chassis, hydraulic braking, and independent suspension to address issues of reliability, durability, and safety prevalent in the unorganized e-rickshaw market. The company highlights fast charging (4.5 hours) and a 3-year battery warranty, backed by Bajaj's nationwide service network.

This initiative follows the post-Covid expansion of the e-rickshaw category, which adds over 45,000 vehicles monthly. Riki was successfully piloted in Patna, Moradabad, Guwahati, and Raipur, and is now expanding to over 100 towns across Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Assam in its first phase.