The Bajaj Chetak is one of the best examples of why Capitalism trumps Socialism.
As you all know the famous "Tilt the Bajaj Scooter" for it to start. What many of us don't know, is why this was the case.
As you all know the famous "Tilt the Bajaj Scooter" for it to start. What many of us don't know, is why this was the case.
When Bajaj designed the scooter, ideally, they should have placed the engine at a level lower than the fuel tank, so that the fuel flows to the engine
They placed it parallel.
As a result, when the scooter was parked, the fuel didn't flow to the engine and scooter didn't start
They placed it parallel.
As a result, when the scooter was parked, the fuel didn't flow to the engine and scooter didn't start
So you had to tilt the scooter to the right, to get the fuel flowing to the engine and it could start.
And then there was a carburettor issue, where more fuel flowed to the engine and it wouldn't start. So you had to tilt the scooter to the left to get it going.
And then there was a carburettor issue, where more fuel flowed to the engine and it wouldn't start. So you had to tilt the scooter to the left to get it going.
In any capitalist country, a scooter with such a bad design flaw would have been excoriated brutally by the people and wouldn't have sold a single piece.
More than that, people would have sued Bajaj to hell.
But Bajaj was selling in Socialist India.
More than that, people would have sued Bajaj to hell.
But Bajaj was selling in Socialist India.
Not only did they sell the faulty scooter by the truckload, they had a wait list of 20 years.
And because there was zero competition, they did not give an eff to correct this simple design flaw.
Leaving an entire generation of Indians with a bad scooter and dark humour.
And because there was zero competition, they did not give an eff to correct this simple design flaw.
Leaving an entire generation of Indians with a bad scooter and dark humour.
If it was a capitalist society, a competitor would have introduced a scooter which would have started instantly, under all conditions, without any problems.
Either Bajaj would have had to innvaote or correct the flaw, or they would have become bankrupt.
Either Bajaj would have had to innvaote or correct the flaw, or they would have become bankrupt.
Because it was a socialist setup, they ended up becoming India's largest two wheeler manufacturer, thanks to that buggy chetak.
Which they had no business doing, with the product they had.
Which they had no business doing, with the product they had.
Thanks to the wonderful people on my TL, I came to know that Bajaj stopped paying Piaggio, royalties for technology transfer, and ensured our Scooters were stuck in the 50s.
Would they have had the guts to do it, if they had some competition? Or if Piaggio was allowed to enter?
Would they have had the guts to do it, if they had some competition? Or if Piaggio was allowed to enter?
If they had, They would have been obliterated out of the market.
But thanks to Indian socialism they were selling scooters, which Cary Grant rode in Roman Holiday in 1953, till the late 1980s.
That too with Huge Waiting lists.
But thanks to Indian socialism they were selling scooters, which Cary Grant rode in Roman Holiday in 1953, till the late 1980s.
That too with Huge Waiting lists.
Sorry, it was Gregory Peck.. Not Cary Grant.
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