March 19, 2025
Bajaj Auto’s Board of Directors has unanimously approved the reappointment of Rajiv Bajaj as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer for another five-year term, effective April 1, 2025, the company announced following its board meeting on Tuesday.
The decision comes as Bajaj Auto continues to strengthen its position in India’s rapidly evolving two-wheeler market, particularly in the electric vehicle segment where its Chetak electric scooter has emerged as one of the country’s top-selling electric two-wheelers.
Bajaj, who has led the company since 2005, has overseen several transformative shifts in Bajaj Auto’s business strategy, most notably pivoting the company from its traditional scooter focus to become a dominant motorcycle manufacturer with strong global presence.
Two Decades of Transformation
Since joining Bajaj Auto’s board in 2002 and taking the helm as Managing Director in 2005, Rajiv Bajaj has spearheaded the company’s evolution through multiple market shifts. A mechanical engineering graduate from the University of Pune with a master’s in Manufacturing Systems Engineering from the University of Warwick, Bajaj began his career on the company’s shop floor before gaining comprehensive experience across manufacturing, R&D, and marketing divisions.
His strategic vision led to the creation of strong motorcycle brands like Pulsar, which dramatically altered Bajaj Auto’s market position and accelerated its growth trajectory. In 2005, his leadership in transitioning the company from scooters to motorcycles earned him recognition as Autocar Professional‘s inaugural Man of the Year.
Electric Resurgence and Market Performance
Perhaps most notably in recent years, Bajaj orchestrated the company’s return to the scooter segment through the revival of the iconic Chetak brand—reimagined as an electric vehicle in January 2020. The move has proven prescient, with Chetak now ranking among India’s bestselling electric two-wheelers.
The company’s performance reflects this successful positioning. In the first 11 months of the current fiscal year, Bajaj Auto has sold 2,124,590 two-wheelers domestically (up 3.27% year-over-year) and exported 1,541,987 units (up 14.52%). While holding third position in the domestic motorcycle market with an 18% share, the company maintains its leadership as India’s top two-wheeler exporter.
Particularly impressive has been the performance of the Chetak electric scooter, which has recorded sales of 231,050 units in the past 11 months—a remarkable 123% increase compared to the previous year.
Three-Wheeler Dominance
Beyond two-wheelers, Bajaj Auto continues to dominate the three-wheeler market both domestically and internationally. Between April 2024 and February 2025, the company sold 441,501 three-wheelers, representing a 4% year-over-year increase and capturing 65% of the total market. In exports, Bajaj accounts for 60% of all made-in-India three-wheelers, with 166,703 units shipped overseas (an 18% increase).
Industry analysts view the board’s decision to extend Bajaj’s tenure as a vote of confidence in his leadership during a period of significant transition in India’s automotive landscape, particularly as electric mobility gains momentum.
“This reappointment signals continuity in Bajaj Auto’s strategy at a crucial time when the industry is navigating both the electric transition and global market uncertainties,” said [Industry Analyst Name], an automotive industry consultant based in Mumbai.
With this renewed mandate, Rajiv Bajaj is expected to further accelerate the company’s electric mobility initiatives while continuing to strengthen its global market presence over the next five years.
