For years they have lived in China's regulatory shadows. Not classified as cars, but significantly larger and faster than motorcycles, scooters and mini delivery trucks.
Now the vehicle known to industry people as the "quadricycle" is finally being validated in the world's largest auto market with the recent launch of one from a local joint venture of America's General Motors. Compact, low-priced quadricycles are already popular in China, especially in less affluent rural areas, despite operating in a legal gray area outside of official recognition.
