Bajaj just quietly dropped one of the most significant electric scooter updates of the year, and most people haven’t noticed yet. The entire Chetak lineup has been overhauled with new names, stronger motors, faster charging and a feature that riders have been begging for since day one — Google Maps baked right into the dash.
A Brand New Naming System That Actually Makes Sense
If you’ve ever been confused by the Chetak variant names, you’re not alone. I always found the old naming convention a bit scattered. Bajaj has now cleaned house with a structured C Series approach that divides the range into three clear families — C25, C30 and C35. Think of it as entry, mid and premium tiers, simple as that.
Each variant now carries a numerical suffix that tells you exactly where it sits. The C2501 is your entry point. The C3001 occupies the middle ground. And the C35 family — with the C3501, C3502 and C3503 — covers the premium end. It’s a much cleaner system, and honestly, it was long overdue. When you walk into a Bajaj showroom now, picking the right Chetak should feel far less confusing.
More Power And Higher Top Speeds Across The Board
This isn’t just a cosmetic rebrand. Bajaj has bumped up performance numbers across every single variant, and the gains are genuinely noticeable on paper. The base C2501 now tops out at 60 km/h, up from 55 km/h. That might sound like a small jump, but in city traffic, those extra 5 km/h make a real difference when you need to keep pace with the flow.
The mid-range C3001 and the C3503 now hit 70 km/h, a solid improvement over the earlier 63 km/h cap. And the top-spec C3501 and C3502 push all the way to 80 km/h, up from 73 km/h. For an electric scooter in Indian conditions, 80 km/h is genuinely usable on wider city roads and even short highway stretches.
The flagship C3501 also gets a motor output bump to 4.8 kW from 4.5 kW. That extra 300 watts translates to better acceleration and more confident overtaking ability. I think this is Bajaj’s direct response to the TVS iQube and Ather Rizta, both of which have been pushing performance boundaries in this segment.
Faster Charging That Saves You Nearly An Hour
Charging anxiety is real, and Bajaj has addressed it head-on with the C3001. The 0 to 80 percent charge time has dropped from 3 hours 50 minutes to just 2 hours 55 minutes. That’s nearly a full hour shaved off, which is a massive improvement for daily commuters who plug in overnight or during work hours.
I’ve always felt that charging speed matters more than raw range for most urban riders. You’re rarely draining the battery to zero. But knowing that a quick top-up during lunch gets you significantly more juice — that changes the ownership experience. It’s the kind of practical upgrade that doesn’t make headlines but wins loyalty.
Google Maps Finally Replaces The Old Navigation
This is the update I’m most excited about. Bajaj has ditched its proprietary navigation system on the top variants and replaced it with full Google Maps integration. If you’ve ever used the old nav system and found it clunky or unreliable, you know exactly why this matters.
Google Maps brings real-time traffic data, accurate ETAs, lane guidance and the kind of routing intelligence that no in-house system can match in India. Our roads are chaotic, diversions pop up without warning, and new flyovers change routes every few months. Having Google Maps on your scooter’s display is a genuine game-changer for daily navigation.
On top of that, riding modes — Eco and Sport — along with hill hold assist are now standard on all C30 and C35 variants. These were previously locked behind an optional Tec Pack that you had to pay extra for. Making them standard is a smart move that adds real value without complicating the buying decision. OTA updates also come standard on the top variants, meaning Bajaj can push software improvements directly to your scooter over time.
The Price Hike Is Modest And Justified
Yes, prices have gone up. The C30 and C35 variants see an increase of around ₹3,000 to ₹5,000 depending on the specific model. Honestly, given the performance gains, faster charging and the addition of Google Maps, I think this is a very reasonable bump. You’re getting tangibly more scooter for a marginally higher price.
The entry-level C25 range appears to hold steady, which keeps the Chetak accessible for first-time EV buyers. Bajaj has been smart about this — they haven’t priced out the value-conscious buyer while still giving premium buyers a reason to spend more.
| Variant | Top Speed (Old) | Top Speed (New) | Key Highlight | Price Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| C2501 (Entry) | 55 km/h | 60 km/h | Higher top speed | Minimal |
| C3001 (Mid) | 63 km/h | 70 km/h | Faster charging (2h 55m) | ~₹3,000-5,000 |
| C3503 (Premium) | 63 km/h | 70 km/h | Standard riding modes | ~₹3,000-5,000 |
| C3502 (Premium) | 73 km/h | 80 km/h | Google Maps, OTA updates | ~₹3,000-5,000 |
| C3501 (Flagship) | 73 km/h | 80 km/h | 4.8 kW motor, full features | ~₹3,000-5,000 |
Bajaj Is Now India’s Second-Largest EV Two-Wheeler Brand
The numbers tell a compelling story. Bajaj closed FY26 with 2,89,349 electric two-wheeler units sold, registering a healthy 25 percent year-on-year growth. That’s over 20 percent market share, placing Bajaj firmly as the second-largest electric two-wheeler brand in India — behind only TVS and comfortably ahead of both Ather and Ola Electric.
That’s a remarkable position for a brand that entered the EV space with just a single scooter. The Chetak’s consistent expansion into multiple variants and price points has clearly paid off. While Ola has grabbed headlines with aggressive pricing and Ather has built a cult following among tech-savvy riders, Bajaj has quietly built volume through trust, dealer reach and the Chetak’s reputation for build quality.
Eric Vas, President of Bajaj’s Urbanite Business, summed it up well when he said the C Series represents a meaningful evolution — combining stronger performance, intuitive connectivity through Google Maps, and built-in convenience features. It’s not a revolution, but it’s the kind of steady, practical improvement that keeps existing owners happy and pulls new buyers into the fold.
How This Stacks Up Against TVS iQube And Ather Rizta
The electric scooter segment in India is fiercely competitive right now. TVS leads the pack with the iQube’s wide variant spread and strong dealer network. Ather has the Rizta and the 450 series covering family and performance niches. Ola continues to push on price. And now Bajaj has sharpened the Chetak’s edge with genuine performance and feature upgrades.
What sets the updated Chetak apart is the combination of Google Maps integration, standardized riding modes and hill hold, and that improved charging speed — all wrapped in a scooter that has consistently scored well on build quality and after-sales experience. The 80 km/h top speed on the flagship also puts it right in the mix with the best in the segment.
If I were shopping for an electric scooter today, the updated Chetak C35 range would be very hard to ignore. The pricing remains competitive, the feature set is now genuinely premium, and Bajaj’s expanding service network adds peace of mind that some newer EV brands still struggle to match.
Should You Visit The Showroom This Weekend
If you’ve been on the fence about going electric, this MY26 update removes several of the friction points that held the Chetak back. Faster charging, better speed, proper navigation and no more paying extra for features that should have been standard — it’s a well-rounded package. I’d strongly recommend heading to your nearest Bajaj showroom and test riding the C3001 or C3501. Feel the difference for yourself, check out the Google Maps integration on the display, and see if the numbers work for your daily commute. The electric scooter space in India has never been this competitive, and that’s great news for buyers like you and me.
