The RE60. Will it pass the test?

The Government has finally paved the way for four-wheeled quadricycles to operate on Indian roads, but has disallowed them from being sold for private use. The new policy stipulates that quadricycles can only be used as commercial vehicles with the symbol ‘Q’ for identification. All norms for commercial vehicles, such as compulsory CNG in some States, will apply to quadricycles as well. The Government will now prepare a final draft on the specifications of the vehicle. The decision will pave the way for Bajaj Auto’s RE60 quadricycles to be sold as a ‘safer’ alternative to three-wheeled auto-rickshaws, which provide last mile connectivity in most Indian towns. The Bajaj company has stated the production of Bajaj RE60 is being done to replace auto rickshaw. According to Rajiv Bajaj, Managing Director of Bajaj Auto, the RE60 is meant to upgrade autorickshaw users to a safer four-wheeler and is essentially an intra-city vehicle. It is the “urban transport solution” which assures greater safety and stability. But even as Bajaj Auto readies to launch its quadricycle, the 216 cc, 400 kg RE 60, a raging controversy grips the auto industry. Is the vehicle safe? Is it overly polluting? Support for the RE60 has not been vocal but the industry grapevine suggests that Mahindra & Mahindra, Piaggio and Eicher are backing the concept since they are confident of launching similar products in the market. On the other hand, many in the auto industry believe that the move to give the green signal to quadricycles is fraught with the danger of not improving, but actually deteriorating, road safety and pollution in the country. Recently, Karl Slym, Managing Director of Tata Motors, tweeted that the quadricycle concept was regressive and is a bad idea in a country that tops the world list in road deaths. At a recent press meet in Pune, he said the RE60 was a safer option for two-and three-wheeler users but “it is clearly not for the car buyer”. He went on to add that the vehicle should be kept off highways/expressways.