Indian government approves Quadricycles, a new vehicle category
After a long legal battle, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has finally approved Quadricycles as a new category of small vehicles. This lesser-known category will be now be used to classify small four-wheeled personal/commercial vehicles. According to the ministry's notification, these vehicles will be required to pass a list of emissions, crash tests, and other norms. Here's more about Quadricycle.
Understanding Quadricycles
For a vehicle to be classified as 'Quadricycle', it should have a kerb weight of less than 475kgs and must pass through ministry-prescribed safety and crash tests to determine passenger safety standards. However, the government hasn't confirmed any specifics related to the length and width restrictions of the vehicle, the GST rate to be levied, and about special registration of the quadricycle vehicles, if any.
Quadricycle vehicles still need to prove road-worthiness
Apart from the rigorous crash test program to determine passenger safety, the government has also specified a set of emissions test for petrol and diesel vehicles in order to ascertain the road-worthiness of these new vehicles. Additionally, the ministry has also permitted quadricycles to run on electric and hybrid alternatives but they will also be required to prove emission and safety features.
What does the ministry have to say?
"The final standards for the category have been issued. Any company that manufactures quadricycle can sell it in India. We have ensured that the safety standards for quadricycle are more stringent than the European standards," a road transport and highways ministry official said.
The story of a quadricycle and the divided auto industry
Critics of quadricycles such as Tata Motors and TVS argued that these vehicles bypassed emission and safety norms which are strictly followed for all four-wheel vehicles. On the other hand, Bajaj Auto, which had showcased Qute, its first quadricycle, argued that these vehicles are smaller than three-wheelers, weigh much lesser, their engine is half-the-size and that an extra wheel only provided more stability.
How quadricycles got a green light?
While the auto industry remained divided on the road-worthiness of quadricycles, the issue was also fought in the courts. And after a 6-year-long battle, the Supreme Court decided that the ministry should take a call on approving quadricycles as a new vehicle category.
The first quadricycle to soon ply on Indian roads
Qute, Bajaj Auto's first quadricycle vehicle, is powered by a 216cc rear-mounted single-cylinder engine that is paired to a four-speed manual transmission, offers a fuel efficiency of 35kmpl and a top-speed of 70kmph. The automaker has been able to launch Qute in many global markets but not in India. However, this changes now as it may soon get approval to ply on India roads.
But will government ease driving rules for these light vehicles?
Now that quadricycles have been approved, would the government ease driving rules and allow teenagers to drive these small category cars? This remains unanswered. Notably, the government has recently approved the use of e-scooters for this age group without a permanent license.
