Riki The Trusted Partner

The innovations in the L3 and L5 segment hint at a continued momentum in the three-wheeler segment. Bajaj Riki taps in to mark the shift as an organised player

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The first few minutes inside the Bajaj Riki P4005 are enough to realise the departure from the familiar sensations that drivers have come to expect from lesser, unregularised e-rickshaws. The cabin feels sturdier, quieter, and refined. There is no vibration from a struggling powertrain, no metallic rattle from a loosely assembled frame, no anxiety about whether the vehicle will roll back on an incline. As the vehicle eases forward inside the controlled environment of Bajaj Auto's test zone, the muted whirr of its electric motor replaces the harsh buzz typical of lead-acid machines. The initial pull is calm and measured, offering none of the abrupt low-speed jerkiness that the segment has normalised all these years.

It points at a well-calibrated powertrain and stable chassis addressing the lack of engineering discipline, safety assurances and predictable operating economics. Samardeep Subandh, President of Bajaj Auto's Intra-City Business Unit, articulates the intent succinctly. “Riki brings Bajaj Auto's trusted 3W engineering and dependability into the electric rickshaw segment at a time when drivers and passengers need dependable solutions,” he says. “We've brought the best for the industry longest range, monocoque chassis, independent suspension and hydraulic brakes. Riki is engineered to increase driver earnings, enhance passenger safety and comfort, and deliver the reliability India's last-mile ecosystem has waited for.” The comment reflects Bajaj's broader ambition to formalise a category where safety, uptime and Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) have historically been inconsistent.