Celebrates

The History Behind India's famous Auto Rickshaw

In late 1957 a very special hybrid vehicle was released by the B achchraj Trading Corporation, based on a German three-wheeler that was officially allowed to come into it's own when the original Vidal & Sohn Tempo Werke ceased operations. The brainchild of N.K.
Firodia, a Ghandhian who was active in India's struggle for independence, the auto rickshaw was part of a vision to industrialize the country. Two companies collaborated through the corporation were instrumental in creating and producing the auto rickshaw, however in the early 1970's the two split into the Firodia's camp called Bajaj Tempo and later Force Motors while Rahul Bajaj formed Bajaj Auto, which manufactures the majority of Indian produced three wheeled Rickshaws.

Simple Technology Goes the Distance

A simple innovation based on the maximum efficiency created by combining the essential engineering of a three-wheeler with a tin or iron shell as a cheap form of transportation with an extremely fuel efficient two stroke engine reaching up to 55 km/h or approximately30 mi/h the auto rickshaw was and is the perfect match for its' environment. Since being introduced 50 years ago it has undergone few engineering changes. The greatest evolution being the transition to aCNG (compressed natural gas) fuel source and measures to require a four stroke engine instead of the standard two, which has only come about in certain parts of India during the last 10 years.

The D.I.Y. Auto Rickshaw Industry

Because the vehicle is cheap to manufacture, sell, operate and repair it is ideal for a wide variety of transportation needs. Local people in cities and villages across India and world wide have modified these vehicles to suit their needs; stretching capacities to fit every type of cargo and passenger load.

Almost every bank in India has a loan program designed to help individuals acquire an auto rickshaw to carry on a fast and easy means of business income. In this way the original goal of N.K. Firodia lives on. It is a shame that the divisions between the two companies has soured the excitement over the 50th anniversary of this amazing vehicle. But with or without corporate involvement the rickshaw will be celebrated as one of the greatest, most economical and versatile ways to motor around.

Even when auto rickshaws predictably crash, breakdown or stall it's not a problem! Because of the light weight construction and simple mechanics a single man can push the powerless auto, three can carry it and almost anyone can fix it up to get back to speeding through crowded streets.

Parts are readily available in even in remote areas. For these obvious reason it is the chief form of transportation for many people in India, Pakistan, Nepal and Sri Lanka . While other countries have readily adopted it; a whole rainbow of nicknames, structural configurations and cultural associations have further modified the basic structure to make it unique to those parts of the world as well. In Latin America the auto rickshaw becomes the mototaxi or moto, particularly in Peru and Guatemala.

Tricked Out Trikes: The Auto Rickshaw on display

In England the auto rickshaw was phased out in the 1960's only to be reborn through the introduction of the modern 4 stoke CNC engine thanks to a single private entrepreneur in 2006. Tuc tucs as they are called, operate a regular service along a special fixed route in Brighton and Hove. Appealing to the populace as a more environmentally friendly and fun way to get around they continue the tradition of being individually painted with enthusiastic colors including the Union Flag and a pinstripe design that all drivers wear in a waistcoat as the company uniform.

In India the autos, or tempos in the popular vernacular, are often painted according to city or company affiliations such as Delhi's forest green sided shells with yellow tops or Chennai and

Bangalore's distinct yellow colors. Drivers, whose income depends on the profits earned from driving the rickshaw often personalize every aspect of the vehicle from movie placements on the back side of the shell to sound systems and cell phones for a lucky paying customer.

However it is in Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Indonesia that they have taken on a new life entirely. Called tuk tuks these auto rickshaws are often manufactured by the Indian Bajaj Auto company, but other manufacturers can also be seen such as Piaggio and Daihatsu where locals will entirely recreate the shell of the vehicle to match their needs in a stunning variety of ways from strictly utilitarian cargo variations to colorful, lavishly decorated transportation vehicles generally in Thailand where tourists can afford to subsidize the cost of tricking out these customizations through tips.

Custom Modifications: Share Autos

Special modifications, usually only seen in India, even allow the auto rickshaws to be extended into what are called share autos. Looking like super compact western style school bus these extended autos can carry 7 to 15 or more commuters or school children in a tight space. Other names for this type of modification again vary by location. They are: shuttle rickshaws in Ahmedabad, seven-seater autos in Hyderabad, Polaamboo vans in Chennai or Phat-a-phats in Delhi. Running like a municipal bus service would in western cities these privately run shuttles have set rates and routes that often fill in when other state organized options are too overtaxed or inconvenient.

Controlled Chaos: City Planners Step In

In the last ten years there has also been a significant movement to make the movement and interaction of different kinds of vehicles more efficient. Similar to other types of urban planning initiatives cities are attempting to organize interactions between different kinds of traffic and usage; from shipping trucks to bicycles and pedestrians. The auto rickshaw is becoming an even more efficient and safer way to get around. This has lead to auto rickshaw specific lanes and routes that run alongside the main full-sized car lanes and sidewalks. Making the switch has led to many problems from drivers being unable to help passengers enter and leave without bypassing other vehicles illegally or making turns within a newly complicated system. City officials in Delhi have installed small barriers dividing the two and to every one's relief they plan on removing the bumps once drivers have acclimated to the new system.

Regulation and Financial Challenges

The job of auto rickshaw driver or auto wallah after 50 years has gained it's own set of challenges, characters and politics. The original two stroke petrol versions that were standard world wide until only 10 years ago might have been fuel efficient but they still created a toxic exhaust. With many thousands of wallahs in an over crowded city lead to significant pollution problems world-wide. In 1998 the Supreme Court of India ruled that Delhi must require CNG a cleaner gasoline or diesel alternative. While this has had a direct positive impact on the health and air quality in Delhi it has also has an enormously detrimental impact on drivers. The cost of converting a single rickshaw is approximately $400-$450 in dollars a cost that few drivers can bear alone. In 2000 the 2 stroke engine was also replaced by the less polluting 4 stroke engine in aCNG version. This has lead to vehicles being upgraded by financiers who control, manipulate and overcharge drivers until there is little chance for drivers to make anything more than a very basic subsistence living. Drivers unions, permit manipulation and low fares have all combined to create a difficult environment for drivers to survive on even while the public at large remains dependent on the auto wallahs for daily transportation.

In countries outside of India these laws have not been put into effect, yet the environmental problems persist. Occasionally outside environmental groups like Environment Canada have attempted to offset these effects by putting the cleanerCNG four stroke engine versions of local rickshaws into use and attempting to phase out the older more polluting vehicles.

The Iconic Rickshaw Driver:
Auto Wallahs and the Movies

Yet the lifestyle of an auto rickshaw driver retains an air of Your browser may not support display of this image.notoriety because of the freedom a driver has to accept or reject passengers and through sheer work ethic create an adaptable income. Drivers can express their opinions and style in ways thatothers can't. Vehicles can be used for advertising or simply to express reverence for movie stars, cricket champions or politicians. In movies and media the role of the auto walla driver has been elevated to art through the Bollywood classic Auto Raja.

Unfortunately it is more common for their image to suffer through characterizations as kidnappers and thieves. Again owing to their dexterity in moving quickly through crowded streets auto rickshaws have been used as get away vehicles in various crimes. But these characterizations are not limited to romance and crime within India, even old James Bond adventures and popular new Thai martial arts movies have reinstated the auto rickshaw as a vehicle for both utility and adventure.