Bajaj Tempo Motors was the name of an Indian vehicle manufacturer based in Pune from 1958 to 2005. It began as a joint venture between Bajaj Auto and Germany’s Tempo to make auto components and grew into a maker of three-wheelers, light commercial vehicles and vans. In 2005 it was renamed Force Motors, under which name it still builds the Traveller, Trax and Gurkha.
Bajaj Tempo at a glance
| Founded | 1958, as Bajaj Tempo Motors |
|---|---|
| Founder | N. K. Firodia |
| Headquarters | Pune, India |
| Partners | Bajaj Auto and Tempo of Germany |
| Renamed | Force Motors in 2005 |
| First diesel LCV in India | Tempo Matador |
| Three-wheeler | Tempo Hanseat, from 1958 |
| Traveller plant | Pithampur, Madhya Pradesh, from 1987 |
| Current brands | Traveller, Trax, Urbania, Gurkha, Citiline, Monobus |
The English Wikipedia article covers the company under its later name, Force Motors; this page uses its Bajaj Tempo history and products.
History of the Bajaj Tempo
Origins
The foundation of Bajaj Tempo lies in the Bajaj Trading Corporation, now Bajaj Auto, established in 1945. Bajaj began assembling three-wheeled auto rickshaws and small trucks in 1951 under licence from Tempo of Germany. In 1958 the two companies announced a joint venture called Bajaj Tempo Motors, with 26 per cent of the shares held by Tempo. The company was founded by N. K. Firodia.
Tempo of Germany and Daimler
The Tempo Hanseat three-wheeler went into production in 1958 in collaboration with Vidal & Sohn Tempo-Werke of Germany. The Tempo Matador became the first diesel light commercial vehicle in India. The word Tempo, a registered trademark of Daimler, became generic in India for any small goods carrier. In 1968 the Firodia Group took a majority stake. In 1971 Tempo of Germany passed into the hands of Daimler-Benz, which kept a 16.8 per cent share in Bajaj Tempo until selling it in April 2001 after 43 years, citing little synergy between the companies.
Growth in Pune and Pithampur
In 1987 Force Motors set up a plant at Pithampur in Madhya Pradesh for the Tempo Traveller, designed and built to Daimler-Benz specifications. In 1997 Daimler asked the company to create a dedicated facility for assembling and testing engines for Mercedes passenger cars made in India. The company was renamed Force Motors in 2005.
After the rename
Force Motors signed technology agreements with MAN in 2003, and a MAN Force Trucks joint venture followed before MAN bought out Force and set up MAN Trucks India in 2012. In 2012 the company launched the Traveller 26, a monocoque panel van seating 26 people, with disc brakes on all four wheels, ABS and EBD. A BMW contract in 2015 led to an engine and transmission plant in Chennai, and a new Chakan plant near Pune began assembling Mercedes engines in 2016. In 2018 Force Motors agreed a joint venture with Rolls-Royce Power Systems to build 10- and 12-cylinder Series 1600 engines in India.
Products
The company’s light commercial vehicles have included the Tempo Traveller, the Tempo Hanseat, Tempo Excel and Minidor, the Force Traveller range, the Monobus and the Urbania, plus the Matador. Small commercial vehicles include the Shaktiman 200 and 400. Utility vehicles include the Trax family, the Citiline, the Kargo King and the Gurkha SUV, while the company also built Balwan, Orchard, Sanman and Abhiman tractors.
Design and features
- Three-wheeler heritage: Bajaj Tempo began with licence-built Tempo three-wheelers in 1951.
- Tempo Hanseat: produced from 1958 with German collaboration.
- Tempo Matador: the first diesel light commercial vehicle in India.
- Traveller: the van line that made the company India’s largest van maker.
- Engineering partner: engine assembly for Mercedes-Benz and BMW in India.
Bajaj Tempo versions
- Tempo Hanseat: three-wheeler of the late 1950s.
- Tempo Matador: first Indian diesel LCV.
- Tempo Traveller: passenger van, later the Force Traveller.
- Tempo Trax: utility vehicle family including the Gama, Judo and Challenger.
- Force Gurkha: off-road SUV still sold under the Force Motors name.
- Force Urbania and Monobus: modern vans and buses.
Other Indian marques in the collection include Bajaj scooters. The full range of vehicles is in the Bajaj collection.
Video: Trax Gurkha 4X4 & Tempo 290 GTD 4X4
Video on YouTube.
Sources
- Force Motors, English Wikipedia: company history, products, rename
