HomeCommercial VehiclesBajajBajaj RE60 ready for launch, awaiting PILs to be quashed by Supreme...

Bajaj RE60 ready for launch, awaiting PILs to be quashed by Supreme Court

Unveiled three years ago, RE60 quadricycle from Bajaj Auto Limited is a low-speed four wheeler, ideally suited for intra city transport. With auto drivers as their main target, the RE60 is approved by Ministry of Road Transport and Highway.

Bajaj RE60 spotted earlier this week at the Bajaj Plant in Pune.

However with PILs (Public interest litigations) filed in high courts of Delhi, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Gujarat, launch is put on hold. Insider tells Rush Lane, that most of these PILs have been backed by rivals, who too are working on launching quadricycles in the market.

As Bajaj’s product is ready to roll out, they will definitely get a first mover’s advantage, and a complete monopoly. But, unless these PILs are quashed, they cannot launch the RE60. A report from last year suggested that interested manufactures on the list includes TVS Motors, Polaris-Eicher, Mahindra, Tata Motors, and Piaggio.  Maruti, Tata and TVS also raised questions over the safety features of RE60.

Bajaj can start exporting quadricycle to the markets outside India, where they already have a presence. But they are choosing not to start exports before launching the RE60 in India first. Bajaj explains, it will get difficult to explain when questions will be asked that why they are not selling the RE60 in home market, and only exporting. As of now, Bajaj Auto awaits for the Union Law Ministry to step in, and quash all the PILs.

Bajaj Auto Limited has invested around INR 550 crores on the development of this quadricycle and created capacity at its Aurangabad plant to produce 5,000 units per month. The company claims that the quadricycle can run for 35 kms on a liter of fuel while capable of reaching a top speed of 70 kmph. The Bajaj RE60 sports a hard top roof with four doors and a windscreen wiper. Its interiors sport a 4 seater configuration and are fitted with digital fare meter and central speedometer. Weighing 450 kgs,, Bajaj RE60 is powered by a 216cc DTS-i liquid cooled, fuel injected petrol engine offering 20 bhp power and mated to a 5 speed manual transmission.

via Live Mint

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