Magnet mayhem could halt Bajaj Auto's August EV output
Tired of too many ads?
Remove Ads
Tired of too many ads?
Remove Ads
Mumbai: Bajaj Auto could have a "zero month" in August for its electric scooter Chetak and electric three-wheeler GoGo because of the shortage of rare earth magnets , managing director Rajiv Bajaj said in an interview. That would make it the first automaker to halt output on account of export curbs imposed by China on the key component.The scarcity due to China's move forced India's second-largest electric scooter maker by volume to halve EV numbers this month though it managed to report full production in June thanks to existing inventory, Bajaj said.China is the world's dominant supplier of rare earth magnets, vital for EV manufacturing as well as others such as internal combustion engine (ICE) powered models, renewable energy, consumer electronics, defence and aerospace, and other industrial applications.Bajaj urged the government to provide all stakeholders greater clarity on the prevailing scenario and the near-term outlook.On whether the auto industry's effort to seek relaxation of domestic value add (DVA) norms under the production-linked incentive (PLI) programme has yielded any result, Bajaj said there has been no conclusive information in this regard from the relevant ministry or any other regulatory authority.To qualify for auto PLI incentives, EV makers must meet rising DVA targets over time.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
44 minutes ago
- Time of India
Honda CB125 Hornet vs Bajaj Pulsar N125: Engine, features & more compared
Honda CB125 Hornet vs Bajaj Pulsar N125. The 125cc streetfighter segment has a new contender as Honda has recently unveiled the CB125 Hornet. Among many notable contenders, it will compete with the Bajaj Pulsar N125 , which was launched last year. Both bikes aim to deliver everyday performance for streets along with a sporty flair in terms of design. Here's how the two stack up against each other. Honda CB125 Hornet vs Bajaj Pulsar N125: Engine specs On the performance front, the Honda CB125 Hornet is powered by a 123.94cc, single-cylinder engine that develops 11 hp at 7,500 rpm and 11.2 Nm of torque at 6,000 rpm. It comes mated to a 5-speed gearbox and is claimed to do 0–60 kmph in just 5.4 seconds, making it the quickest in its class. Weighing in at just 124 kg, it's also the lightest in the segment. Bajaj, meanwhile, offers a slightly larger 124.58cc engine in the Pulsar N125, which pushes out 12 hp and 11 Nm. Despite being a bit heavier at 127.5 kg, the Pulsar boasts a higher ground clearance of 198 mm compared to the Hornet's 166 mm. The seat height on the Pulsar is also taller at 795 mm, whereas the Honda is slightly lower and more accessible at 786 mm. Simple One review: Is this the EV to beat? | TOI Auto Honda CB125 Hornet vs Bajaj Pulsar N125: Features & hardware Where things get really interesting is in the feature department. Honda has taken a bold step by offering USD forks at the front - a segment-first - along with a rear monoshock. Braking is handled by a 240 mm front disc and a 130 mm rear drum, backed by single-channel ABS as standard. The Pulsar N125, in contrast, uses conventional telescopic fork setup and a rear monoshock. Brakes are similar in size to the Hornet, but ABS is not offered. When it comes to tech, Honda pulls ahead with a 4.2-inch TFT screen, Bluetooth pairing via the Honda Roadsync app, and a Type-C charging port. Bajaj's N125 is available in two variants: one with a basic LCD and the other with a larger display that includes call/message alerts via Bluetooth. However, its connectivity features are limited compared to what Honda offers. Both bikes come with LED lighting and a USB charging port.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Ather closing in on Ola Electric in July EV sales
Ola Electric 's shift from chasing growth to focusing on profitability has come at a cost. Its market share in the electric two-wheeler segment slipped to 17.2 per cent as of July 27, down from 19.9 per cent in June, as per Vahan data. Ather Energy , its listed rival, is now within striking distance, clocking 13,187 units this month for a 16.5 per cent share. The gap of just 526 units between Ola Electric and Ather Energy in July so far marks a sharp narrowing compared with June, when Ola Electric had sold over 5,000 units more than Ather Energy. Ola Electric reported a net loss of ₹428 crore on revenue of ₹828 crore for the first quarter of FY26. Losses widened 23 per cent from ₹347 crore in the same quarter last year but shrank 51 per cent from ₹870 crore in the January-March period. Revenue rose 35 per cent sequentially from ₹611 crore but was down 49.6 per cent year-on-year. Ather Energy is yet to report its financials for the April-June period. Responding to queries sent by ET, Ravneet Phokela, chief business officer of Ather Energy, said that the recent growth in its numbers was on account of the launch of its family-oriented scooter series, Rizta, which has expanded its user base across new segments and geographies. Queries sent to Ola Electric, Bajaj Auto , and TVS Motor remained unanswered till press time. This shake-up in market positions comes amid rising concerns over China's curbs on rare earth magnet exports, which are starting to hit electric two-wheeler sales in India. The segment has seen a 21.6 per cent drop in volumes so far in July versus June. Even legacy players like TVS Motor and Bajaj Auto, which lead the category, have seen sharp month-on-month declines of 31 per cent and 27.4 per cent, respectively. Phokela of Ather Energy said the company has so far managed to avoid any major impact by balancing inventory between its manufacturing units and dealerships. 'As an industry, all of us are also exploring alternative sources and technologies, but that's not ready at this point in time,' he said. In a recent interview with ET, Rajiv Bajaj, managing director of Bajaj Auto, said August could be a 'zero month' for its electric scooter Chetak and electric three-wheeler GoGo due to a shortage of rare earth magnets, making it the first automaker to halt production as a result of China's export curbs on the key component. Ola Electric slips The drop in Ola Electric's market share and sales has come at a time when it has been grappling with a range of challenges, including scrutiny over sales data discrepancies, vehicle quality concerns and missing trade certificates at several of its retail outlets. 'Ola Electric has been grappling with the issues of quality historically, because of which the brand has taken a hit,' said Jay Kale, executive vice president of Elara Capital. 'While they have mentioned in their earnings calls that their Gen 3 products have a much better quality, it will take time for that to reflect in the market and the word of mouth to spread.' Ola's stock has also underperformed since its listing. On Friday, it closed at ₹41.2 on the BSE, well below the IPO price of ₹76. In contrast, Ather's shares closed at ₹333.7, up from its IPO price of ₹321. In February, Ola Electric reported 25,000 vehicle sales in its filings, while Vahan data showed just 8,652 registrations.
Time of India
4 hours ago
- Time of India
Bajaj Finance Share Price Live Updates: Bajaj Finance Market Performance
28 Jul 2025 | 10:28:51 AM IST Stay informed with the Bajaj Finance Stock Liveblog, your comprehensive resource for real-time updates and in-depth analysis of a leading stock. Get the latest details on Bajaj Finance, including: Last traded price 911.35, Market capitalization: 566370.07, Volume: 2656872, Price-to-earnings ratio 32.46, Earnings per share 28.04. Our liveblog combines fundamental and technical insights to provide a holistic view of Bajaj Finance's performance. Stay ahead of the market with breaking news that can influence Bajaj Finance's trajectory. Our expert analysis and stock recommendations empower you to make well-informed financial decisions. Trust the Bajaj Finance Stock Liveblog for up-to-date information and expert insights. The data points are updated as on 10:28:51 AM IST, 28 Jul 2025 Show more
