Team-BHP - The Bajaj Qute (RE60)

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But if they want to make it a "cheap alternative to cars", I don't think it will work out. Remember the nano's fate. Ours is a country where a car with the tag-line "cheap" attached to it will never succeed.

So it is a demographic limitation that you are pointing out? On a larger scale, I would love to imagine a car ferrying me daily to work (2nd car though!!) which is just fit for 2 occupants and give me a decent 35 KMPL mileage through the B2B city traffic and be a decent one to look at. Imagine if all metro Indians drive that to work, roads would have been so eased up and less smoky!

wonder if the REVA could have a small gasoline motor to fit my bill lol:

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Originally Posted by gopa99 (Post 3949017)

So it is a demographic limitation that you are pointing out?

Definitely sir.I feel it is a demographic limitation of Indians.

If not, how could such a practical small car like Nano fail to garner atleast half of Alto's sales every month?
It is definitely not because of looks or safety concerns, because the Alto is not really better than Nano in both these departments.
Maruti's strong service network can be cited as a reason for the sake of argument, but that too is not the real reason here.
Just see how Renault with its relatively weak service network is managing to outsell Hyundai's Eon month after month with it's Kwid, and it becomes clear.
Tata, which had a much better service network than Renault, could have outsold atleast Eon, had they not associated the "Cheap car" image with the name Nano.

Just like how you wish about that small second car in your post, many people are willing to make nano their second or third car.
But Nano as the only car in family is a big no for a majority, whereas Alto is perfectly ok for most of them.
That is what I wanted to convey.

Global NCAP expresses disappointment over Bajaj’s misleading statement on the EuroCap safety rating!

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Bajaj's statement that implied that the Qute quadricycle has achieved ‘superior’ Euro NCAP safety rating than cars like VW Polo, Ford Figo, Hyundai i10, Maruti Alto, and Tata Nano.

The Bajaj Qute received 1-star rating in the quadricycle crash test while the India-spec variants of the aforementioned cars were awarded 0-star rating under more stringent testing parameters

The Bajaj Qute (RE60)-bajajquteglobalncaplettertorajivbajaj.jpg

https://www.rushlane.com/global-ncap...-12193722.html

Qute is expected to be launched in India at last-

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If things go according to plan, the 216cc Qute could hit the roads by this fiscal-end after a wait of over five years since it was first showcased as the RE60 at the 2012 Delhi Auto Expo

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According to industry sources, the draft notification indicates that the Ministry is now clear about its intent to go ahead with quadricycles as a mode of transport. This could even prompt other companies to throw their hats into the ring. At one point in time, Piaggio was interested in this product category and, more lately, reports have been doing the rounds that Mahindra & Mahindra is also considering the possibility.

Source - http://m.thehindubusinessline.com/co...cle9976848.ece

Govt clears policy to permit quadricycles for commercial use in India.

Source : https://www.business-standard.com/ar...0200055_1.html

In near future we may see quadricycles pasted with OLA/UBER stickers. Hopefully cost of intra-city travel will be reduced.

According to a media report, Bajaj Auto could launch the Qute quadricycle (RE60) in the next 3-6 months.

The Qute was first showcased at the 2012 Auto Expo but was never launched in India due to regulatory issues concerning quadricycles. Safety was also a concern. In 2016, it got a 1 star rating in Euro NCAP crash tests.

Bajaj is expecting the ministry of road transport and highways to issue a notification in the next week, which will pave the way for the launch of the Qute in India. The roll out could begin once Bajaj receives the homologation certificate from ARAI.

The Qute will be classified as a commercial vehicle and is seen as an alternative to 3-wheelers for last mile connectivity. Bajaj Auto manufactures the quadricycle at a separate facility, which is currently churning out 5,000 units per month. The Qute is currently exported to 12 countries including Russia, Poland, Turkey as well as Latin American and Southeast Asian countries. The company has received approval for sale from 14 more countries and hopes to double its exports this year.

Source: Economic Times

Link to Team-BHP News

Finally! I really wish Qute succeeds.

But for some reason, revolutionary products do not seem to sell well in India. By revolutionary, I mean unique products that have been developed as an alternative to established form of transport.

Now Qute is supposed to be an alternative to three wheelers. Past failures -

1) Tata Nano as an alternative to two wheelers
2) Eicher Polaris Multix as an alternative to TVS XL/Maruti Omni/Bolero

Well, they didn't have to wait too long!

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The government has approved quadricycle as a new category of vehicle to be allowed to run on Indian roads. The decision will allow Bajaj Auto to roll out the Qute, its much delayed ultra-lowcost micro car.

On Tuesday, the road transport and highways ministry issued the final notification on the standards for quadricycle, such as its weight, emission and safety features.

Source

https://in.yahoo.com/finance/news/ba...053517051.html

just saw a news item that bajaj qute is launched.
Will be available in kerala and north east from next month.
Supreme court ordered a new class of vehicles - quadricycle. No crash tests required!!