Bajaj Auto has produced 5,000 units of their quadricycle, the RE-60, in anticipation of Government norms
soon being introduced to cover a smaller, more practical commercial people carriers. The vehicle falls in a new category between the conventional auto-rickshaw and a car. It is the first of its kind in India.
RC Maheshwari, Bajaj Auto’s president for commercial vehicles, stated, “The Government has given us an in-principle approval to create this new class of four-wheelers or quadricycles.” He also added. “A committee is working on regulations and norms for such vehicles. We understand that the process for the final inclusion of this new class in the commercial vehicles segment will take a few months more.”
Bajaj Auto are currently working on the pricing as the regulations in this regard have yet to be setup. According to some reports, the RE-60 is expected to cost around Rs 1.5 lakh. Bajaj Auto is also considering export strategies for markets like India, where vehicle akin to the RE-60 do duty, including South East Asia, Latin America and Africa.
With new vehicle and emission norms set to be introduced in India in the year 2015, the introduction of quadricycles as a substitute for public transport in urban areas and congested cities is being actively considered. The Bajaj RE-60 will be powered by a 216cc, 4-stroke petrol engine and will return a fuel economy in the range of 35 km/litre.
