You’re a rickshaw driver in a bustling town, ferrying groups of passengers from railway stations to markets, earning solid profits with every trip. Your ride? The Bajaj RE Auto 12-Seater 2025, a beast of an auto rickshaw built to carry more, save fuel, and keep you comfortable on long days. Launched in early 2025, this high-capacity rickshaw from Bajaj, India’s auto rickshaw king, is designed for urban and rural routes, boasting a BS6-compliant engine, best-in-class mileage, and space for 12 passengers (including driver). Priced around ₹3.5 lakh (ex-showroom), it’s a game-changer for drivers looking to scale their transport business. For those searching “Bajaj RE 12-seater price 2025” or “best auto rickshaw 2025,” here’s why this rickshaw rules, told like a friend sharing tips over chai at a roadside stall.
What’s New with the 2025 Bajaj RE 12-Seater?
The Bajaj RE Auto 12-Seater 2025 builds on the iconic RE lineup, known for moving millions across India’s streets. Unlike the standard 3-seater RE, this model is a high-capacity beast, designed to carry 11 passengers plus the driver, perfect for crowded routes like bus stands or village-to-town commutes, dealers say. Launched in early 2025, it brings a BS6-compliant engine for cleaner emissions, improved fuel efficiency, and a beefier chassis for stability under heavy loads, per company updates. The cabin gets cushioned seats, better ventilation, and a modern dashboard, making long hours behind the wheel less tiring, drivers note. With Bajaj selling over 5 million 3-wheelers globally, this 12-seater is their big bet for 2025’s growing transport needs, per market insights.
Pricing: A Smart Investment
The Bajaj RE 12-Seater is priced around ₹3.5 lakh (ex-showroom), with on-road costs in cities like Chandigarh hitting ₹3.9-₹4.1 lakh, including RTO (₹28,000) and insurance (₹25,000), dealers estimate. It’s pricier than the standard RE 3-seater’s ₹2.34-₹2.36 lakh but offers triple the passenger capacity, boosting daily earnings, per cost breakdowns. Available in CNG and diesel variants, the CNG model is cheaper to run, ideal for high-traffic urban routes, drivers say. Financing is driver-friendly: a ₹50,000 down payment and EMIs of ₹8,000-₹10,000/month over 5 years at 9.8% interest make it reachable, finance details note. Festive discounts of ₹10,000-₹20,000 may pop up around Diwali 2025, but exact offers are unconfirmed, showroom staff hint.
Design: Built Tough, Styled Smart
The 12-seater RE sports a muscular, practical design, measuring approximately 3,200 mm long, 1,400 mm wide, and 1,800 mm tall, with a 2,200 mm wheelbase for stability, per design specs. Its 170 mm ground clearance tackles bumpy rural roads, while the stainless steel body resists rust, a boon in humid areas like Patna, drivers note. The yellow soft-top roof, paired with eco-green or black-yellow color options, gives it a vibrant, modern look, per showroom displays. A T-shaped black front panel with round halogen headlamps adds a rugged charm, and the soft side curtains protect passengers from rain, per design details. Compared to the Kawasaki Eliminator’s sleek cruiser style, the RE’s boxy, utilitarian build is all about function with a dash of flair, dealers say.
Cabin and Comfort: Room for All
Step inside, and the RE 12-seater feels like a mini-bus. The driver’s cabin has a cushioned seat, ergonomic handlebars, and a compact LCD console showing speed, fuel, and odometer, per interior specs. A lockable glove box and USB charging port keep essentials safe and phones juiced, drivers appreciate. The passenger area fits 11 people across bench seats, with cushioned backs and decent legroom for 5’2” to 5’10” riders, per user feedback. Rear doors and side curtains ensure safety and ventilation, though tall passengers might find headroom tight, owners note. The 910 kg gross vehicle weight (GVW) supports heavy loads without compromising balance, per technical data. Unlike the Nothing Phone 3’s techy vibe, the RE’s cabin is no-nonsense, built for long-haul comfort, showroom staff say.
Engine and Performance: Power Meets Efficiency
The RE 12-seater offers two BS6-compliant engine options, per variant details:
CNG (236.2cc, single-cylinder): 9.25 hp, 16.18 Nm, 4-speed manual, 27-30 km/kg.
Diesel (470.5cc, single-cylinder): 8.37 hp, 22.69 Nm, 4-speed manual, 25-30 kmpl.
The CNG engine is zippy for city routes, hitting 50 kmph with ease, while the diesel’s torque shines on hilly rural roads, test drives confirm. Both use a wet multi-plate clutch for smooth shifts, though the diesel feels heftier in traffic, drivers say. The CNG variant’s 18% gradeability and diesel’s 20% handle slopes like those in Araria, per performance specs. Compared to the Bajaj Qute’s 216cc quadricycle engine, the RE’s motors are beefier, built for heavier loads, per market comparisons. Top speed is capped at 60 kmph for safety, ideal for 50-150 km daily runs, dealers note.
Mileage: Profits in Every Kilometer
Fuel efficiency is the RE 12-seater’s superpower. The CNG variant delivers 27-30 km/kg, with real-world figures of 25-28 km/kg in mixed city-rural routes, per driver reports. The diesel hits 25-30 kmpl, averaging 22-27 kmpl under heavy loads, owners say. With an 8-litre CNG tank (4 kg) or 8-litre diesel tank, ranges are 100-120 km (CNG) and 200-240 km (diesel), perfect for a day’s work, per fuel math. At ₹80/kg for CNG and ₹100/litre for diesel, a full CNG tank costs ₹320, and diesel ₹800, saving ₹500-₹1,000 daily vs. older petrol rickshaws, drivers calculate. Claims of 40 km/kg online are exaggerated—stick to 25-30 km/kg for CNG, dealers clarify.
Ride and Handling: Stable and Sturdy
The RE 12-seater’s chassis, with a single-sided hydraulic front fork and coil spring rear suspension, smooths out potholes on rural roads, per ride feedback. Its 2,200 mm wheelbase and 120/80 R12 tires ensure stability, even with 11 passengers, drivers note. The 170 mm ground clearance dodges most obstacles, though deep monsoon puddles need care, per owner tips. Steering is light, with a 3.5-metre turning radius for tight market lanes, per specs. Compared to the Piaggio Ape City Plus’s softer ride, the RE feels sturdier under load, test drives suggest. It’s built for 50-150 km daily runs, from city buzz to village dust, showroom staff say.
Safety: Keeping Everyone Secure
Safety is solid for a rickshaw. The RE 12-seater features drum brakes on all three wheels, with a parking brake for slopes, stopping smoothly in 3-4 seconds from 40 kmph, per test data. The steel frame and side doors add passenger security, while halogen headlamps and reflectors ensure night visibility, drivers note. No ABS or advanced aids, unlike the Mahindra Treo’s electric setup, but the basics are reliable, per safety specs. The GVW of 910 kg keeps it grounded, though overloading risks handling issues, owners warn. Compared to the TVS King Deluxe’s open design, the RE’s enclosed cabin feels safer, dealers say.
Features: Practical and Driver-Friendly
The RE 12-seater keeps tech simple but smart. The LCD console shows essentials, and a provision for a music system lets drivers add speakers for passenger vibe, per feature details. A 12V socket charges phones, and the lockable glove box stores cash or permits, drivers appreciate. The dashboard’s ergonomic layout puts switches within reach, though some wish for a digital speedometer, per owner feedback. Unlike the Bajaj Maxima X Wide’s wider cabin, the RE prioritizes capacity over luxury, per variant comparisons. It’s a workhorse, not a gadget hub, showroom staff note.
Ownership and Maintenance: Built to Last
Running the RE 12-seater is pocket-friendly. Annual maintenance costs ₹6,000-₹8,000, covering oil, filters, and brakes, cheaper than the Piaggio Ape’s ₹8,000-₹10,000, per service data. Bajaj’s 3,000+ dealerships ensure 24-48 hour service in cities, with rural areas needing 3-5 days for parts like clutch cables, owners say. Insurance is ₹20,000-₹25,000/year, with online renewals saving 10%. The 3-year/36,000 km warranty and 80,000+ km engine life boost resale to 60-70% after 5 years, per market estimates. Running costs are ₹2-₹3/km at 100 km/day, with monthly fuel at ₹8,000 (CNG), per driver math.
Competitive Landscape: King of Capacity
At ₹3.5 lakh, the RE 12-seater takes on high-capacity rivals:
Mahindra Treo: ₹2.79-₹3.17 lakh, electric, 170 km range, 4-seater—greener, less capacity.
Piaggio Ape City Plus: ₹2.22-₹2.55 lakh, CNG/petrol, 4-seater cheaper, smaller.
TVS King Deluxe: ₹1.20-₹1.65 lakh, CNG/petrol, 4-seater—budget-friendly, less room.
Bajaj Maxima X Wide: ₹2.45-₹2.47 lakh, diesel, 4-seater—lower cost, smaller load.
The RE 12-seater’s 11-passenger capacity dwarfs the Treo’s 4-seater limit, while its CNG efficiency beats the Ape’s 25 km/kg, per spec sheets. Bajaj’s 3,000+ service centers outshine TVS’s 1,500+, dealers note. With 5,000+ units projected for FY 2025-26, it’s a niche leader, per sales estimates.
Why the RE 12-Seater Rocks
The Bajaj RE Auto 12-Seater 2025, at ₹3.5 lakh, offers a BS6 CNG/diesel engine, 27-30 km/kg mileage, and space for 12, with cushioned seats and a sturdy 910 kg GVW. Built for 50-150 km urban-rural routes, it outshines the Mahindra Treo’s electric range with higher capacity and matches the Piaggio Ape’s affordability with more seats, per driver buzz. Minor gripes, like tight headroom, don’t dim its profit potential, owners say. For drivers searching “Bajaj auto rickshaw mileage,” this rickshaw’s a business booster. Hit a Bajaj showroom in 2025 to test-drive this money-maker.
FAQs About Bajaj RE Auto 12-Seater 2025
What’s the price?
₹3.5 lakh ex-showroom, ₹3.9-₹4.1 lakh on-road in Chandigarh, per dealers.
What’s the mileage?
CNG: 27-30 km/kg; diesel: 25-30 kmpl; real-world 25-28 km/kg, 22-27 kmpl, drivers say.
How many passengers?
11 passengers plus driver, per specs.
What are the key features?
BS6 CNG/diesel engine, LCD console, cushioned seats, 170 mm ground clearance, per details.
How does it compare to Mahindra Treo?
RE’s 12-seater capacity beats Treo’s 4-seater; Treo’s electric but pricier to run, per comparisons.
Is it good for rural routes?
Yes, with 170 mm clearance, 910 kg GVW, and 100-240 km range, ideal for 50-150 km, drivers note.
