[anthusiast]

Quadricycles for private use to get green light

Quadricycles, approved for commercial sales in June, are distinct from regular four-wheelers in that they weigh almost half as much as entry-level small cars, have smaller and more frugal engines, and are equipped with basic features.

The Union government will this week approve the sale of quadricycles for private use, paving the way for a new segment of affordable four-wheelers for Indian families, although not everyone is convinced about their safety.

Quadricycles, approved for commercial sales in June, are distinct from regular four-wheelers in that they weigh almost half as much as entry-level small cars, have smaller and more frugal engines, and are equipped with basic features.

According to regulations, vehicles in the segment will have to weigh less than 475 kg — roughly half of the Maruti Celerio, which is one of the lightest small cars on sale. Quadricycles will have to meet crash protection and emission norms, according to the government’s earlier notification.

“Maximum permissible kerb weight for the purpose of classification shall not exceed 475 kg in case of passenger vehicle and 550 kg in case of goods vehicle,” the order issued in June had said.

One of the first vehicles of this category is the Bajaj Qute RE60. It was unveiled in 2012 but could not be launched as Bajaj’s rivals and industry bodies approached the Supreme Court citing safety concerns. The company has, however, been exporting the vehicles.

Following the government’s June notification amending Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, the Supreme Court approved the classification of quadricycles as a new vehicle category in India.

Source

[GTO]

Thanks for sharing, anthusiast! Moving your post to a new thread.

[Arjun Reddy]

Found a video on the Bajaj Qute on you tube. Credits gadiwadi.com

https://youtu.be/ONlkqGsWQfA

I hope the transport policy can dictate that all the autorickshaws will have to be replaced by these in electric form. Uber and Ola can use these for their micro cabs.

Surely they Qute looks safer to me than an rick.

Not sure if too many private individuals would want one of these but it can surely be used for ferrying passengers.

[AdityaDeane]

Quadricycles Can Now Be Used As Passenger Vehicles: Government (source)

So far, the Quadricycle vehicles were only allowed for transport usage under the Motor Vehicle Act 1988.

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has notified the insertion of the item 'Quadricycle' as a 'non transport' vehicle under the Motor Vehicles Act 1988. So far, the Quadricycle vehicles were only allowed for transport usage under the Motor Vehicle Act 1988 but this notification will now permit Quadricycles to be used as a non-transport or passenger vehicles. This move will certainly help manufacturers like Bajaj Auto India who have been fighting for the inclusion of the Quadricycle. The Bajaj Qute will finally be available for sale and though the company already exports the quadricycle to other markets, it's inclusion in India will certainly see sales soaring.

Earlier this year, the Indian Government had approved of the Quadricycle as a vehicle category. A Quadricycle is a vehicle of the size of a 3-wheeler but with 4 tyres and fully covered top hat like the one in a car. The size of the engine is near to that of a three-wheeler which makes it an affordable and comparatively safer solution for last mile connectivity. Technically, the Quadricucle vehicles will be categorised as A-Segment (entry) vehicles which measure less than 3.6 metres in length, cannot weigh more than 475 kg, and has an engine size of less than 800 cc.

However, similar to all the vehicles sold in India even the Quadricycle vehicles will have to undergo a rigorous crash test and will have to meet the BNVSAP safety norms as well as the BSVI emission norms. The government has also approved full electric or hybrid models of Quadricycle vehicles but even those models cannot skip the stringent crash test norms. We hope Renault is listening and bring in something like the Twizy for the Indian markets. Moreover, similar to the below 100 cc gearless scooters, government has allowed teenagers of 16 years and above to drive the Quadricycle vehicles.

[androdev]

Are there any Quadricycles that already comply with safety and emission norms mentioned in this announcement? It is hard to believe that these vehicles can be built to such ultra low cost and also meet safety norms.

[peus017]

Isn't Quadricycle a four-wheeler with a smaller capacity engine ?

Quite surprised by the safety norms being different for a Quadricycle vs a four-wheeler.

If it has carrying capacity of 4 or 4+ people, its a mere adjustment w.r.t space, road congestion. I am not sure who will be the target audience in private sector and what actual problem will it solve ?

Apart from current auto-rickshaws upgrade, I somehow doubt its sustainability.

[cooldude1988765]

Originally Posted by androdev

Are there any Quadricycles that already comply with safety and emission norms mentioned in this announcement? It is hard to believe that these vehicles can be built to such ultra low cost and also meet safety norms.

I Guess any Kei Car will comply with 2 regulations as they are limited to 660cc and 3.4m Length.

Weight will have to be looked into.

I couldn't find any conclusive evidence of the safety of kei cars in my limited research. However most reports cite that they do not pass Euro NCAP without showing any evidence for it.

Brands like Datsun, Daihatsu, Suzuki etc. might seriously look into this yet untapped segment especially since they have years of Kei Car experience.

[karan561]

Development is on since 2012 & this what Bajaj gives us ? A Quadricycle & that too for about INR 2.5L (As per ACI Review, Oct. 2018) ?

This is the height of incompetency !

[SmartCat]

Originally Posted by karan561

A Quadricycle & that too for about INR 2.5L (As per ACI Review, Oct. 2018) ? This is the height of incompetency !

Maruti Alto 800 starts at Rs. 2.7 Lakhs ex-showroom.

[Arjun Reddy]

Originally Posted by smartcat

Maruti Alto 800 starts at Rs. 2.7 Lakhs ex-showroom.

Not sure of the authenticity of this site, but the OTR Bangalore price of a Bajaj Compact LPG Auto is listed at around 2.3 lakhs.



That looks like a great profit margin price for Bajaj, considering the engineering that has gone in.

Obviously they would like to price their Quadracycle at lot more than the auto to prevent it from cannibalising the sales.

[nishsingh]

Honestly, I think it is time the autorickshaws are banned completely, with the Quadricycles replacing it.

In Hyderabad, where I live, the auto-rickshaws are essentially pedestrians - they can go the wrong-way, can use the zebra-crossings to cross roads at traffic signals, and can turn-around/side-ways at their whim.

We need to have a phase-out plan for auto-rickshaws if we are to be seen as a nation making progress.

[srishiva]

It has folding rear seats
Mr. Bajaj said Dicover 100 was a mistake. What about this ? I think hiring anyone to build this was. Unless, the so called authorities can help to make sure this thing sells by tweaking some rule ! Other makers had some issue with this (or type of) vehicle, isn't it ?
Autos and similar things should be made of bumpers that get mutilated easily to make sure they drive sanely and create a big hole in the driver's pocket.

[silverado]

Originally Posted by smartcat

Maruti Alto 800 starts at Rs. 2.7 Lakhs ex-showroom.

Originally Posted by Arjun Reddy

OTR Bangalore price of a Bajaj Compact LPG Auto is listed at around 2.3 lakhs.

Now we can appreciate TATA for Nano's pricing. TATA's genuinely wanted to make an affordable car for countrymen.
BAJAJ is ofcourse milking a lot of money on rickshaw.

Why should a Quadricycle be priced higher than rickshaw? i feel it should be similarly priced,if they want to encourage people to switch to Quadricycle.Who would be those private buyers? Is this an ideal vehicle to make a switch from 2 wheelers? i doubt since this does not have an AC and remember this is limited to City limits only.

Can TATA Carve a Quadricycle out of base Nano? How are they going to lose 150kgs in Nano is the question.

[GeeTee TSI]

Reality is that (un)affordability plays a major part in public embracing (unsafe) forms of transport. Considering that the current options are the diesel people carriers from Tata, Mahindra as well as the petrol / diesel three wheeled contraptions which pack commuters like sardines; crash-worthiness seems redundant as they don't even have passenger restraining seatbelts.
What's wrong in a quadricycle joining the party

[Arjun Reddy]

Originally Posted by silverado

Who would be those private buyers? Is this an ideal vehicle to make a switch from 2 wheelers?

My two cents of what I have seen of the Indian market. The typical two wheeler person will not upgrade to the quadracycle. They will pick the Maruti Alto at a start point or move upto the Celerio.

They would rather have a top end two wheeler than a less than entry level four wheeler? That is where the Nano failed. They did not want to associate themselves with a 1 lakh rupee car. Most customers of the Nano had probably another car that was higher up the range. Could be wrong though?