Govt okays duadricycle as mode of public transport - Business Standard

Fifteen years since Tata Motors first mooted the idea of a quadricycle with concept micro car 'Zing' at the Delhi Auto Show, the four-wheeled vehicles are set to become a reality in the domestic automobile industry with the government today giving a go-ahead to quadricycles to ply as public transport vehicles within city limits. Interestingly, however, this time around it is not Tata Motors but Bajaj Auto, which with the RE60 would go first off the block to roll out quadricycles as a replacement for three-wheelers on Indian roads. Rajiv Bajaj, managing director, Bajaj Auto Limited said, "We're delighted as we are likely to be the first mover (in the segment)." In fact, ironically Tata Motors managing director Karl Slym had questioned the introduction of quadricycle terming it as a regressive step for the industry taking on Bajaj Auto earlier last month. A senior official at the Ministry of Road, Transport & Highways (MoRTH) informed, "The quadricycles are a significant upgrade over three-wheelers which are used for commuting in most cities. Quadricycles are four-wheeled vehicles with fully enclosed body structure, they are undoubtedly a much safer alternative." However, to address concerns of major automobile manufacturers who had cited dilution of safety and emission norms in use of quadricycles as personal vehicles, MoRTH has recommended that this category of vehicles be registered under commercial transport category for intra-city movement. Additionally to distinguish them from cars, the symbol 'Q' needs to be prominently displayed on the body of such vehicles. R C Bhargava, chairman, Maruti Suzuki India Limited said, "It is a good policy. There were safety concerns about the use of quadricycles for personal mobility. But with the government permitting them for use as commercial vehicles within city limits, it will provide an improved alternative for people commuting via three-wheelers. " Maruti earlier had reservations about government allowing quadricycles saying that they should meet the safety standards and emission norms of a small car.   The norms notified under the three-wheeler category (L5) under the Central Motor Vehicle Rules (CMVR) or the European Union Quadricycle regulations would be adopted for this new segment of vehicles, which ever is more stringent. In future, the revised norms for this category as notified by the European Union for quadricycles would be made applicable with a lag of six months. Final regulations for quadricycles would be notified within a period of three months. The decision has come after months of debate and dissent within the domestic auto industry over the use of quadricycles in India. Tata Motors Managing Director Karl Slym had tweeted on May 25, "The government and industry have been accelerating efforts in traffic safety and environment, now we consider a quadricycle. Why go backwards?"Slym had added a day later, "The number of wheels do not automatically make us better, it is adherence to tried and tested safety and emission norms." Bajaj had refuted critics saying his primary attempt is to replace the less safer three-wheelers which are more polluting and pose a significant safety risk as they are less stable at higher speeds, thus there is no argument of comparing the RE60 with cars. Interestingly, Bajaj today informed, "I expect that both three & four wheelers will co-exist. We will shortly unveil all all new range of 3 wheelers - more green, more fuel efficient, more powerful, more comfortable, more reliable - to enhance our global leadership of this category." Bajaj is also looking at exporting the product RE60 to markets like Sri Lanka, Africa, Nigeria, Bangladesh  and even Egypt. It will start with  a manufacturing capacity of 200 RE 60s per day, or 5,000 units a month. Venu Srinivasan, chairman and managing director, TVS Motor Company – a Bajaj rival in the three-wheeler space who had earlier referred to a study by Transport Research Laboratory (UK) quoting fatality rates of quadricycle are 14 that of a car in France and therefore quadricycles should meet safety and norms of a car – said, "I cannot comment on it till the the time I get to see it. We are not getting into the (quadricycle) segment, it is not our business, we have got very little to do with it. It is for the four wheeler making companies to decide whether they want to get into the low-cost, high polluting segment if they think it will eat into their share of cars". via Technology - Google News http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNG9PryDqWtdriZeNsukSA1b7GKJLQ&url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/companies/govt-okays-duadricycle-as-mode-of-public-transport-113052200829_1.html

Put the internet to work for you. via Personal Recipe 2598265