Bajaj to manufacture commercial vehicles at small car plant

India’s second-largest motorcycle maker, Bajaj Auto Ltd., plans to manufacture commercial vehicles on a new platform it is developing in Waluj, Maharashtra, for its small car project. The Waluj plant is being set up at a cost of Rs500 crore (US$108.77 million), the company earlier said. Of this, Rs225-250 crore (US$48.95 million-US$54.38 million) has been earmarked for investment in the current fiscal year. Bajaj Auto is developing the small car project in partnership with Renault SA and Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. The alliance wants to sell the car for Rs1.10 lakh (US$2,392), less than the Tata Nano’s ex-showroom price of around Rs1.5 lakh (US$3,263). The Tata Nano has been dubbed the world’s cheapest car. (November 26, 2010)