This has been a heady period for Maharashtra. Big names like Tata-Fiat, General Motors, Mahindra & Mahindra and Bharat Forge have committed over Rs 3,000 crore worth of investments into the state. The latest to join the list is Bajaj Auto which, along with its vendors, will invest Rs 1,750 crore in a new facility at Chakan near Pune. This region already houses the company’s motorcycle plant which is exclusively reserved for top-end models like the Pulsar, Discover and Avenger.

Vendors will invest an additional Rs 250 crore in existing facilities for supplying components to the new plant. The project will see a new range of three and cargo four-wheelers with a capacity of five lakh units annually. At present, the traditional three-wheelers (autorickshaws) are produced at the Waluj plant and it will be interesting to see if the new Chakan unit eventually takes over a more important role.

Eventually, all this will depend on market requirements. Bajaj is also getting ready with its electric three-wheeler which will be unveiled soon. However, it is the four-wheeler offering that will be interesting because it could be in the same segment as the successful Tata Ace. Indications are that this product segment will grow rapidly in the coming years.