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Posted on 03 January 2012 |
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AUTOMOBILE |
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“Not a car, but a four-wheeler”
The world’s largest three-wheeler maker launches its first four-wheeler – a green vehicle
Tehelka.com Bureau
New Delhi
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Photo: Naval Hans |
Bajaj Auto Limited, the world’s largest three-wheeler maker, launched its first four-wheeler vehicle—RE60—on Tuesday. An eco-friendly product, the car runs on CNG and LPG, and is powered by a 200cc water-cooled DTSi 4-valve engine. At 35 kmpl, it promises to be the most fuel-efficient vehicle in India. The car seems like an Indian version of the Mini with a hunchback.
Talking at the launch, Rahul Bajaj, managing director of Bajaj Auto, emphatically denied that the RE60 was meant to be a replacement for the three-wheelers. “Three-wheelers are an icon of India like the Beetel is to Germany and the Mini to England. But you never know since it is a flexible platform and is subject to changes,” he said.
“We would like to make the RE60 an icon and the market leader of four-wheeler section,” he added without divulging the price of the vehicle.
“We are very excited with the outcome of our efforts and, in the RE60; we believe we have an excellent solution for the mobility challenges arising from the rapid urbanisation of India,” Bajaj said. He added that the car was “frugally engineered”. “We are presenting an optimised solution for intra-city passenger transport. This vehicle has been designed for intra-city use keeping in mind the intra-city duty cycles and safety requirements,” he further added.
With the lowest carbon dioxide emissions – 60gms/km – Bajaj expects that the RE60 will set “a global benchmark in carbon dioxide emissions.”
The MD of Bajaj Auto further added, “In the RE60 we have an immediate solution to pollution that doesn’t need new infrastructure, huge subsidies or time.”
The arrival of RE60 has ended the long wait for the low-cost passenger car that the Bajaj-Renault-Nissan alliance had promised to come up with ever since the Tatas launched the Nano. However, Renault and Nissan haven’t played any part in the production yet.
“This car is designed wholly by Bajaj Auto. The participation of Renault and Nissan in the production of RE60 will be decided in coming days,” said Bajaj. Being anti-car, he emphasised that it is not a car but a four-wheeler. “Who needs another car company?” he said.
As far as plans for the RE60 go, he said, “Our first export market would be Sri Lanka where three-wheelers are being used as family vehicles. So our product will be an upliftment for them.”
The RE60 will be manufactured in Bajaj’s three-wheeler plant in Aurangabad and be available in the market within the next few months. The car will be presented at the Delhi Auto Expo as well.
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