Qute tug-of-war still continues

The tug-of-war on the Qute continues even as the quadricycle from Bajaj Auto awaits its India entry.

The latest is a letter exchange between a slew of consumer associations across the country and the company. The list includes the Citizen Consumer and Civic Action Group, Consumer Voice, Consumers Association of India and Consumer Education and Research Society.

In their joint letter of April 8 to Bajaj Auto, these associations have expressed their concern on the Euro NCAP crash results for the Qute. “We urge you not to bring the Qute to market until such time that necessary adjustments have been made to its design to ensure it provides and adequate level of safety for occupants and pedestrians,” states the letter.

In his reply of April 20, Rajiv Bajaj, MD, “respectfully disagrees” that the Qute could be mistaken for a small car. He reiterates that it is half the size and weight of a small car with speeds restricted to 70kmph.

On the key aspect of safety, Bajaj makes it clear that road safety is an important issue. “I am less concerned about the safety of the minority that are secure inside their fast cars, shielded by their airbags, strapped in their seatbelts,” he writes.

On the contrary, he adds that his greater concern is for those who “cannot afford these cars, and who while walking, cycling, riding or availing of a 3-wheeler are mauled by so-called safe cars”. Hence, he continues, these victims deserve a safer urban transport solution that is affordable and this is where the Qute becomes relevant.

The million dollar question, though, is the timing of its entry considering that it is still to be approved for India. The long wait for the Qute has only convinced Bajaj Auto that rivals are at work scuttling its entry here. Eventually, it is up to the market to decide if this is a practical mobility solution vis-à-vis the autorickshaw. That will only be known when the Qute debuts eventually.