The Bajaj Tempo

The Tempo triporter with cab went into production in the late 1920s and became an extremely popular seller in Germany in the light commercial range. Having only three wheels and powered by a sub-500cc two stroke engine, owners did not need either a car license or to pay road tax. They were solid and reliable and could haul payloads far in excess of what their meager horsepower rating would suggest - albeit very slowly.

In the postwar period, Vidal and Sons, upgraded the prewar Tempo triporter and renamed it the Hanseat. These vehicles were an essential feature of the reconstruction period in 1950s Germany. They were however quite old fashioned and in 1949 Tempo introduced the four-wheel light truck, the Tempo Matador, powered by a Volkswagen boxer-engine. While the Matador was a far more practical vehicle, the Hanseat remained as popular a seller as ever due its low running and purchase cost. Nevertheless, it was clear to Vidal and Sons that the Hanseat production run was soon coming to an end.

Rather than simply retire the vehicle, Vidal and Sons sought out a joint venture partner in the Far East, where the little triporter may have a longer future. In 1951, they established a licensed production agreement Bachraj Trading company in India to assemble Hanseats from knock-down kits. These proved to be a just as popular a seller in India as they had been in Germany. Progressively, Bachraj took over full manufacturing until in 1954, Vidal and Son's sold all designs, presses and tooling for the Hanseat. In 1958, Vidal and Sons formed a joint venture with Bachraj as Bajaj Tempo Motors. Bajaj Motors range included the Indian-manufactured Hanseat, Indian-assembled Tempo Matadors and Vikings, and tricycle rickshaws based on the Piaggio Ape design.

The Bajaj Hanseat would remain in production until 2000. Few changes were made except to replace the two cylinder 400cc Heinkel two stoke motor with a single cylinder Lombardi diesel engine.


The Indian Firodia Group bought out Bajaj Motors in 1968, however Vidal and Sohns retained their 25% stake in Bajaj, until Vidal and Sohns were themselves taken over by Daimler-Benz in 1971. Daimler-Benz inheriting their stake in Bajaj until they sold out in the early 2000s. The company is now called Force Motors and continues to manufacture a wide range of commercial vehicles in India.