Ultraviolette issues open challenge to Bajaj Auto: will defeat

It looks like there’s some healthy competition brewing in the two-wheeler space. Ultraviolette has issued an open challenge to Bajaj Auto and other two-wheeler manufacturers to beat them in an upcoming sporting event. What’s the reasoning behind the challenge? Where will the contest take place? Who will be the contenders? We have some theories.

First, we need to understand the context in which this open challenge was launched. In a recent interview, Bajaj Auto CEO Rajiv Bajaj gave his trademark witty response, saying that the sales of the Ultraviolette were not “ultra”. The industry veteran said that he believes that scooters, not motorcycles, will dominate the market when it comes to electric vehicles. In response, Subramaniam praised Bajaj for producing disruptive products like the Pulsar, but also mentioned that the same spirit is lacking now. He then went on to challenge Bajaj in their own backyard and invited all other manufacturers to participate.

UV Challenge

“We will be participating in a contest format event in Bajaj Auto’s backyard in Aamby Valley in about 90 days. We will be combining our best in design, technology and performance. We will definitely invite Bajaj Auto to bring their best. I think the simple contest format should answer who has truly pushed the boundaries of Indian engineering with limited resources and capital,” Subramaniam said in a video posted on his social media.

According to Subramaniam, the event could be The Valley Run. The event will be held at Aamby Valley in Pune in late November, about 90 days before the opening. Since Bajaj’s factory is located in Chakan, Pune, the event will also be held in their backyard. Given that electric vehicles are known for their explosive acceleration, an empty airstrip will be a great stage to showcase the Ultraviolette’s capabilities.

Ultraviolette’s Challenger

As for whether Ultraviolette can be their best product yet, there could be a few possibilities. Ultraviolette currently sells only one product, the F77 Mach 2, which in itself can beat most vehicles in Bajaj’s lineup. Ultraviolette themselves claim that the F77 can accelerate from standstill to 100 km/h in 7.7 seconds, which is no cakewalk. But we don’t think it will be that simple. If the company is putting up such a bold challenge, they may have something more to bring.

This brings us to the F99 racing platform that was unveiled at the 2023 EICMA. The F99 boasts an aggressive design language, active aerodynamics, and a 120.6 horsepower engine. The company claims that it can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in just three seconds and can reach a top speed of 265 km/h. Now, the F99 is not scheduled to be launched until next year, so we don’t know if Ultraviolette will be able to launch it so early. But it would be a pretty big statement to bring such a crazy machine to the valley racetrack and stamp its authority on it. With acceleration figures that can challenge the liter-class motorcycles, the F99 can easily beat anything that Bajaj or any other Indian manufacturer boasts.