50 Years of the Auto Rickshaw

In late 1957 a very special hybrid vehicle was born. The brainchild of N.K. Firodia, a Gandhian active in India’s struggle for independence, the auto-rickshaw was part of his vision to industrialise India. It was an extraordinarily simple invention, created by combining the engineering of a three-wheeler with a tin or iron shell, to form a cheap form of transportation that is incredibly fuel efficient. The auto-rickshaw is inexpensive to manufacture and operate, and coupled with is versatility, has led it to become one of the chief modes of transport on the Indian sub-continent.

Since being introduced 50 years ago, it has undergone few engineering changes, the greatest evolution being the transition to a compressed natural gas fuel source and improvements to the engine, reducing pollution and making it even more efficient. Even when auto-rickshaws crash or breakdown, its not usually much of a problem, as their light-weight construction and simple mechanics mean that a single man can push it and almost anyone can fix it up to work again. Parts are readily available in even the remotest areas and their popularity means that you will not have to look far to find another owner who can help you to fix your auto-rickshaw.

They are also extremely popular today in many other areas of the world too, from Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Indonesia, to Central America and Peru. Even cities such as Brighton and London in the UK have recently rediscovered the auto-rickshaw, appealing to the populace as a more environmentally friendly, not to mention fun way to get around crowded city streets. Their owners often modify these vehicles to suit their needs, stretching capacities to fit every type of cargo and passenger load, not to mention adding individual designs and colours to make them stand out.

Thus with its 50th birthday this year, the auto-rickshaw can find fitting tribute in the Indian Auto-Rickshaw Challenge Mumbai Xpress 2007, a crazy 1900km rally through the heart of India in this iconic vehicle. This year’s event is set to be the most insane and incredible yet; over 900 km longer than the 2006 rally, with unforeseen physical and mental challenges not to mention the ongoing parties throughout the rally! The outcome of the first Indian Auto Rickshaw Challenge 2006 proved to be a huge success and caught media attention worldwide, such as the BBC and Times Online, but with wider participation this year, including 40 teams from 35 countries taking part, the attention and sponsorship Mumbai Xpress 2007 is going to receive will be even greater.

The Mumbai Xpress 2007 Rally is being conducted for the benefit of the Adopt A Village program, helping to relieve child poverty in India. Each team taking part in the competition will visit local villages along the route to deliver supplies and badly needed aid after consulting with the community leaders in the weeks before to work out what they require. This honourable goal is a fitting celebration for the auto-rickshaw, as this versatile means of transport is often one of main pillars of commercial life in these small isolated villages.

The future of auto-rickshaws looks bright as they are being welcomed by new generations who are excited about the positive impact the auto-rickshaw can have around the world for the problems of congestion in crowded urban areas, and as an environmentally friendly alternative to current transportation. With so much about it worth celebrating, the Indian Auto-Rickshaw Challenge Mumbai Xpress is set to commemorate its 50th anniversary of this noble vehicle in style this summer!