Chetak EV goes up in smoke after Rajiv Bajaj’s “Ola Ola hai, Chetak Shola hai” jibe: Details

Chetak EV goes up in smoke.

Bajaj Auto’s electric scooter, the Chetak EV, found itself in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons just days after CEO Rajiv Bajaj’s jibe comparing it to rival Ola scooters. At a recent event, Bajaj celebrated the Chetak’s market dominance, as he said, “Ola toh Ola hai, Chetak shola hai,” referencing its fiery performance in sales. However, irony struck when a Bajaj Chetak was reportedly involved in a thermal incident in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar.
The incident occurred on Jalna Road, where two farmers, Bhagwan Chavan and Ravindra Chavan, noticed smoke coming from their electric scooter while waiting at a busy traffic signal. The local fire brigade managed to douse the smoke by spraying water. Fortunately, no injuries were reported.

A viral video of the incident has since gone viral on social media. The company has confirmed awareness of the situation and noted that the matter is under investigation. As per PTI, a spokesperson from the company said, “We have been informed of a thermal incident. The matter is being probed.”
Although the exact cause of the smoke is still under investigation, advancements in technology over the years have significantly improved the safety of electric scooters. Compared to three or four years ago, when incidents of electric two-wheeler fires were more frequent, such cases have become increasingly rare.
Interestingly, the timing of this event coincides with Bajaj’s announcement of a new Chetak model set to launch on December 20. The Chetak, which has sold over 3,00,000 units to date, is a significant player in India’s electric two-wheeler market, claiming the title of the highest-selling EV scooter.
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