Euro NCAP recommends Bajaj to regulate speed, proposes 'potential improvements' for Qute

Bajaj Auto, maker of the Qute expressed satisfaction on the 1-star rating by Euro NCAP for the quadricycle in a crash test, results of which were announced on 6^th April. The 1-star rating put the Qute at par with some quadricycles made by European OEMs. But Global NCAP, the global safety watchdog, has expressed dissatisfaction with Bajaj Auto’s response to the crash test results. This was conveyed through a letter to Bajaj Auto.

In the letter (dated 8^th April) addressed to Rajiv Bajaj, MD, Bajaj Auto , Global NCAP’s secretary general says that “although the one star awarded to the Qute was a slightly better result than some of the vehicles tested, Euro NCAP stressed that your product does not perform well. They revealed a likelihood of sever or fatal head and chest injuries”. The letter also states recommendation by Euro NCAP to limit the speed of the Qute and also proposes “potential improvements” including fitment of a three point inertia seat belt and an airbag. Global NCAP “strongly encourages” Bajaj to adopt the recommendations “as a matter of urgency”.

The Qute was exported to 19 countries globally during 2015-16. 334 units were exported last year. Turkey, where the Qute was launched last November, became the first European market for the quadricycle. In India, the Qute, when it goes on sale, will be pitched as a safer and more comfortable alternative to the 3-wheeler auto rickshaw. Given the features and structure of the Qute, it is a safer alternative to the auto rickshaw. In matured markets,  

Ward, in his letter, also expresses ‘disappointment’ on Bajaj Auto’s comparision of the Qute’s test results with the test results of Indian compact cars which got zero star rating in tests conducted in 2014. He says that the test for the cars is much tougher and therefore should not be used as a relevant comparision. The Euro NCAP quadricycle test sees a full frontal impact at 50 kmph as against a 40 percent overlap impact at 64 kmph for cars in the Global NCAP test.  

Global NCAP has criticised the Qute and expressed disappointment at Bajaj Auto’s response to the test results but the agency has also expressed its view that following the recommendations by Euro NCAP will help Bajaj Auto to be potentially “a world class leader in promoting quadricycles that provide levels of safety equivalent to passenger cars that meet minimum United Nation’s crash test standards”. 

Also read: Bajaj Auto MD reacts strongly to Global NCAP's comments on Qute's crash test