Earlier this month, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) greenlit the inclusion of Quadricycle as a vehicle type permitted on Indian roads. It clears the way for the Bajaj Qute to get launched in the Indian market finally.
According to a new report by BW Businessworld, Bajaj is keen on striking a deal with cab aggregators Ola and Uber to supply the Qute to them. Speaking to the publication, Ramesh Chandra Maheshwari, President (Commercial Vehicle Business), Bajaj Auto, said -
As far as this vehicle’s supply is concerned, we have had discussions with most taxi fleet owners as well as aggregators like Meru, Ola, Uber, etc.
Uber and Ola both list auto rickshaws as a category in their respective apps in parts of major cities. The Qute was conceived as a step-up for the three-wheeler and for the operator, the four-wheeler, complete with doors and proper seats, will turn out to be a safer and perhaps more profitable vehicle for covering short distances and providing last mile connectivity.
To qualify as a quadricycle, the vehicle needs to weigh less than 475 kg. Stringent crash test and safety norms have also been put in place for this new vehicle category. Emission norms for quadricycles with petrol, diesel, CNG, LPG, hybrid and electric powertrains have been specified as well.
The Bajaj Qute is 2,752 mm long, 1,312 mm wide, and 1,652 mm tall. It has a wheelbase of 1,925 mm. The Qute uses a 216.6 cc water-cooled DTS-i engine, which produces 13.2 PS and 19.6 Nm of torque and is paired to a 5-speed sequential gearbox. CNG and LPG versions are also available. It is the first Indian made quadricycle to meet the stringent European norms.
Also Read - Bajaj Qute spotted in Kerala
Bajaj exports the Qute to Indonesia and Turkey. The company plans to sell the quadricycle in 14 other countries including Thailand, Bangladesh, Egpyt, and Ethiopia. The company has long been fighting for its approval and subsequent launch in the Indian market since its debut as the Bajaj RE60 in 2012.
[source - BW Businessworld]
