It’s got four wheels and seatbelts, but Bajaj Auto, the creator of India’s first quadricycle, would rather you didn’t call it a car. Bajaj Auto is marketing the RE60 as a more stable and comfortable alternative to the threewheeled autorickshaws ubiquitous on India’s roads even though it looks like a small hatchback car and is expected to cost less.
Weight, top speed and other specifications, including safety standards, mean the RE60 will not be classified as a car. Rajiv Bajaj, the company’s managing director, insists the RE60 is neither a car nor an autorickshaw. The government is even creating a new classification category for the vehicle, which is expected to be launched within months. “In every market that a three-wheeler is available the quadricycle should be relevant,” stated Bajaj.