Move over, Nano, the quadricycle is here. Or is it? Bajaj Auto's minicar was to have hit the roads in a few months but has been stalled in its tracks for the time being. And the future of the vehicle — not quite a car, and not an autorickshaw either — seems to be in jeopardy.
The quadricycle, as the name suggests, is a four-wheel cycle. But it has an engine at the rear. And it has a shell, which makes it look like a quaint car, somewhat like the Nano's little brother. But there is a campaign building up against the quadricycle, called RE60. So far, it has mostly revolved around safety issues — focusing on whether it would be safe driving such a light vehicle on India's chaotic roads.
In May this year, the government certified that it was safer than three-wheelers, as it would be 'a four-wheeler with a fully enclosed body structure, hard top and doors'. But the government was forced to hold its horses and give the naysayers time to express their concerns. The 30-day notice period for the quadricycle norms expired on September 26.
Among those worried about its advent are three-wheelers or autorickshaws, as well as motor companies which see it as a cheap alternative to cars. The autorickshaw drivers' fear is that it may ease out the autorickshaw, affecting their livelihood. 'Why do we need four-wheelers when we have three,' asks Sharad Rao, president of Mumbai's autorickshaw union.
Rao argues that the existing three-wheelers are safer than four-wheelers — a claim backed by countrywide traffic department figures. Last year, autorickshaws were held culpable for 4.2 per cent of deaths, versus the 18.6 per cent of deaths caused by cars, jeeps and taxis; and 20.3 per cent by two-wheelers.
Rajiv Bajaj, managing director, Bajaj Auto, smells a conspiracy. 'People who use a three-wheeler deserve a better vehicle like the quadricycle but some carmakers want to deny them that choice so that they either remain on three wheels or are forced to buy expensive cars,' he says.
For Bajaj Autos, it makes sense to enter a gloomy market with the RE60, which is expected to be priced at less than Rs 2 lakh, lower than the Nano's price. Summer car sales in India suffered a 10.41 per cent decline, according to the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM).
However, the RE60's 216-cc single cylinder engine will let it speed like a motorcycle, but technically position it way behind the 682-cc twin cylinder powered engine of Tata's Nano, says Adil Jal Darukhanawala, auto enthusiast and founder editor of Car & Bike International.
This 1.6m high Bajaj vehicle can race up to 70 kmph and is modelled on the newly improvised 2.5m high European 450kg four seater, L7e-CP, which can speed up to 90 kmph and sports a 1.5m broad and 3.7m long body.
Though the vehicle may find takers in India, SIAM is not taking a position on the tussle between carmakers and Bajaj. 'The industry is split by divergent views, but we don't have a stand on the matter,' SIAM's director general Vishnu Mathur says.
Other quadricycle makers are a bit wary too. Ravi Chopra, chairman and managing director of two-wheeler maker, Piaggio, whose quadricycles are 'doing well' on European roads, clarifies that he is not against the quadricycle 'in principle' but would push for a steering impact test, improved fuel emission specifications and a braking system 'that comes closer to that of a four-wheeler'.
The European Union's (EU) latest 77-page safety and emission norms for L category bikes and minicars — another name for quadricycles — underline the need for an advanced braking system, automatic lighting, pollution control devices, protection beams and better bumpers. Europe is expected to produce 2,80,000 minicars by 2017, according to global market analysts Frost and Sullivan.
The draft Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 2013, keeps in step with EU norms. The quadricycle here is defined as a four-wheeler with a fully enclosed hard body, doors and a steering wheel. This four-seater passenger weighs up to 450kg.
'We have cherry-picked what we want to suit a manufacturer,' says Darukhanawala. 'But the quadricycle, which is the best modern rickshaw, is environment-friendly and delivers brilliantly and nobody should throw a spanner in the works,' he is quick to add. 'Bajaj has taken advantage of technology that allows you to do more for less.'
But alarm bells are already signalling trouble with oft-quoted 2009 EU statistics culled from limited data that makes minicars 10-14 times more accident prone than cars. In 2010, the Italian National Institute of Statistics said these accounted for 0.6 per cent of the nation's road accidents, as compared with 0.4 per cent involving cars.
'The quadricycle is safer than a two or three-wheeler but not safer than a normal car,' auto expert Hormuzd Sorabjee points out. It can be driven around by any licensed driver around municipal limits, as the Motor Vehicles Rules propose.
Little or no thought has been spared for the very real possibility of the minicar being rammed by a larger vehicle. But Bajaj says, 'Cars are safe only for those inside, which is why 75 per cent of road fatalities involve people who are outside the car,' he says. 'They are too big and fast and are killing machines, but self-centred carmakers are like wolves in sheep's clothing and create misleading arguments in their own selfish interest.'
The argument continues — and a final decision is expected to be taken by the government shortly. After assessing the concerns of those who are worried about the arrival of the quadricycle, the government may amend the Motor Vehicles Act. But reports suggest that Rajiv Bajaj is not happy with the campaign against the RE60. Newspapers reported earlier this week that he may be forced to export the vehicle.
Right now, of course, it's anybody's guess whether the quadricycle industry is going to brake or accelerate. But the horn has been sounded.
