Quadricycle skids off govt's last-mile EV race, no PLI bids

There have been no sales of these vehicles in India in the past four fiscals, Vahan data shows

- Manas Pimpalkhare

Four years after the Union cabinet approved the ₹25,938-crore production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme for automobiles and auto parts, not a single manufacturer has applied to test an electric quadricycle at the country's top vehicle testing agency, the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI), two officials aware of the development said.

Quadricycles are small four-wheelers used to carry passengers and goods, and are identified under the L7M and L7N categories of vehicles. There has been no sales of these vehicles in India in the past four fiscal years, data on the government's Vahan registry shows.

Sales of battery-operated electric quadricycles are eligible for incentives under the PLI Auto scheme, according to publicly-available eligibility forms for the scheme, as these 'micro-cars' are classified as advanced automotive technology.