Auto rickshaw

Anauto rickshawis a motorized version of thepulled rickshaworcycle rickshaw.Most have three wheels and do not tilt. They are known by many terms in various countries, including3wheel,Adaidaita Sahu,Keke-napep,Maruwa,auto rickshaw,auto,baby taxi,bajaj,bao-bao,chand gari,easy bike,jonnybee,lapa,lapa-lapa,mototaxi,pigeon,pragya,tuk-tuk,tukxi,andtum-tum.

Auto rickshaw inSri Lanka

The auto rickshaw is a common form of transport around the world, both as avehicle for hireand for private use. They are especially common in countries withtropicalorsubtropical climatessince they are usually not fully enclosed, and they are found in manydeveloping countriesbecause they are relatively inexpensive to own and operate. There are many different auto rickshaw designs. The most common type is characterized by a sheet-metal body or open frame resting on three wheels; a canvas roof with drop-down side curtains; a small cabin at the front for the driver operatinghandlebarcontrols; and a cargo, passenger, or dual purpose space at the rear. Another type is a motorcycle that has an expanded sidecar or, less often, is pushing or pulling a passenger compartment.

As of 2019,Bajaj Autoof India is the world's largest auto rickshaw manufacturer, selling 780,000 during the 2019 fiscal year.

Origin

Daihatsu MidgetModel DKA

In the 1930s Japan, which was the most industrialized country in Asia at the time, encouraged the development of motorized vehicles including less expensive three-wheeled vehicles based on motorcycles. TheMazda-Go,a 3-wheel open "truck" released in 1931,is often considered the first of what became auto rickshaws. Later that decade the JapaneseMinistry of Posts and Telecommunications of Japandistributed about 20,000 used three-wheelers to Southeast Asia as part of efforts to expand its influence in the region.They became popular in some areas, especially Thailand, which developed local manufacturing and design after the Japanese government abolished the three-wheeler license in Japan in 1965.

Production in Southeast Asia started from theknockdownproduction of theDaihatsu Midget,which was introduced in 1959.An exception is the indigenously modified Philippine tricycle, which originates from theRikuoType 97 motorcyclewith a sidecar, introduced to the islands in 1941 by theImperial Japanese Armyduring World War II.

In Europe,Corradino D'Ascanio,aircraft designer atPiaggioand inventor of theVespa,came up with the idea of building a light three-wheeled commercial vehicle to power Italy's post-wareconomic reconstruction.ThePiaggio Apefollowed suit in 1947.

Regional variations

Africa and the Middle East

Egypt

Locally named the "tuktuk", the rickshaw is used as a means of transportation in most parts of Egypt. It is generally rare to find in some affluent and newer parts of cities such asNew CairoandHeliopolis;and on highways due to police control and enforcement.

Gaza

Together with therecent boom of recreational facilities in Gazafor the local residents, donkey carts have all but been displaced by tuk-tuks in 2010. Due to the ban byEgyptand Israel on the import of most motorised vehicles, the tuk-tuks have had to be smuggled in parts through thetunnel networkconnecting Gaza withEgypt.

Iraq

Due to extreme congestion inBaghdadand other Iraqi cities combined with the insensible cost of vehicles in relation to frequent violence, rickshaws have been imported from India in large numbers to provide taxi service and other purposes, in stark contrast to previous attitudes of thepre-U.S. 2003 invasioneras with rickshaws being disdained and sedans being held in high regard as a status symbol. Rickshaws have been noted for being instrumental in political protest revolts.

Madagascar

In Madagascar, man-powered rickshaws are a common form of transportation in a number of cities, especiallyAntsirabe.They are known as "posy" frompousse-pousse,meaningpush-push.Cycle rickshaws took off since 2006 in a number of flat cities likeToamasinaand replaced the major part of the posy, and are now threatened by the auto rickshaws, introduced in 2009. Provincial capitals like Toamasina, Mahajanga, Toliara, and Antsiranana are taking to them rapidly.They are known as "bajaji" in the north and "tuk-tuk" or "tik-tik" in the east, and are now licensed to operate as taxis.They are not yet allowed an operating licence in the congested, and more polluted national capital, Antananarivo.

Nigeria

Aerial view of autorickshaw congestion from a pedestrian bridge in Uyo, Southeast Nigeria

The auto rickshaw is used to provide transportation in cities all over Nigeria. Popularity and use varies across the country. In Lagos, for example, the "keke" (Hausafor bicycle) is regulated and transportation around the state's highways is prohibited while in Kano it's popularly known as "Adaidaita Sahu".

South Africa

Tuk-Tuk inHermanus,South Africa (2014)

Tuk-tuks, introduced inDurbanin the late 1980s, have enjoyed growing popularity in recent years, particularly inGauteng.InCape Townthey are used to deliver groceries and, more recently, transport tourists.

Rickshaw inOmdurman(Sudan)

Sudan

Rickshaws, known as "Raksha" in Sudan, are the most common means of transportation, followed by the bus, in the capitalKhartoum.

Tanzania

Locally known as "bajaji", they are a common mode of transportation inDar es Salaam,and many other cities and villages.

Uganda

A local delivery company called as Sokowatch in 2020 began a pilot project using electric tuk-tuks, to cut pollution.

Zimbabwe

Hende Moto electric 3-wheeler, Zimbabwe

Hende Moto EV & Taxi company was founded in 2019 by Devine Mafa, an American-Zimbabwean businessman. Hende Moto taxis were first introduced in Zimbabwe as the first vehicle manufactured by Zimbabwean three-wheeler manufacturing company Hende Moto Pvt Ltd. The first Hende Moto Taxi was introduced in Kwekwe in August 2019, and thereafter in Victoria Falls City and then Harare in 2019. Hende Moto is also the manufacturer of the first Zimbabwean-made electric passenger three-wheeled vehicle. It operates on a lithium-ion battery that has a range of 70 miles on a 6-hour charge.

South Asia

Afghanistan

A tuk-tuk inHerat

Auto rickshaws are very common in the eastern Afghan city ofJalalabad,where they are popularly decorated in art and colors.They are also popular in the northern city ofKunduz.

Bangladesh

See also:Rickshaw art in Bangladesh

"CNGs" inDhaka

Auto rickshaws (locally called "baby taxis" and more recently "CNGs" due to their fuel source, compressed natural gas) are one of the more popular modes of transport in Bangladesh mainly due to their size and speed. They are best suited to narrow, crowded streets, and are thus the principal means of covering longer distances within urban areas.

Two-stroke engines had been identified as one of the leading sources of air pollution inDhaka.Thus, since January 2003, traditional auto rickshaws were banned from the capital; only the new natural gas-powered models (CNG) were permitted to operate within the city limits. All CNGs are painted green to signify that the vehicles areeco-friendlyand that each one has a meter built-in.

India

Auto rickshaws inPune

Most cities offer auto rickshaw service, Althoughcycle rickshawsand handpulled rickshawsare also available but rarely in certain remote areas, as all other cities began using auto rickshaws. Many state governments have launched an initiative of women-friendly rickshaw service called thePink Rickshawsdriven by women.The drivers are known as the Rickshaw-wallah,auto-wallah,tuktuk-wallahorauto-kaarain places like Kerala.

Auto rickshaws are used in cities and towns for short distances; they are less suited to long distances because they are slow and the carriages are open to air pollution.Auto rickshaws (often called "autos" ) provide cheap and efficient transportation. Modern auto rickshaws run on electricity as government pushes for e-mobility through its FAME-II scheme,compressed natural gas(CNG) andliquified petroleum gas(LPG) due togovernmentregulations and are environmentally friendly compared to full-sized cars.

To augment speedy movement of traffic, auto rickshaws are not allowed in the southern part ofMumbai.

India is the location of the annualRickshaw Run.

There are two types of auto rickshaws in India. In older versions the engines were below the driver's seat, while in newer versions engines are in the rear. They normally run on petrol, CNG, ordiesel.Theseating capacityof a normal rickshaw is four, including the driver's seat. Six-seater rickshaws exist in different parts of the country, but the model was officially banned in the city ofPuneon 10 January 2003 by the Regional Transport Authority (RTA).

Apart from this, modern electric auto rickshaws, which run on electric motors and have high torque and loading capacity with better speed, are also gaining popularity in India. Many auto drivers moved to electric three-wheelers as the prices of CNG or Diesel is very high and that type of auto rickshaw is much costlier compared to the electric auto rickshaw. The Government is also taking actions to convert current CNG and diesel rickshaws to electric rickshaws.

CNG autos in many cities (e.g. Delhi, Agra) are distinguishable from the earlier petrol-powered autos by a green and yellow livery, as opposed to the earlier black and yellow appearance. In other cities (such as Mumbai) the only distinguishing feature is the 'CNG' print found on the back or side of the auto. Some local governments are consideringfour-stroke enginesinstead of two-stroke versions.

Notable auto rickshaw manufacturers in India includeBajaj Auto,Mahindra & Mahindra,Piaggio Ape,Atul Auto,Kerala Automobiles Limited,TVS MotorsandForce Motors.

In Delhi there also used to be a variant powered by aHarley-Davidsonengine called thephat-phati,because of the sound it made. The story goes that shortly afterIndependencea stock of Harley-Davidson motorbikes were found that had been used by British troops duringWorld War IIand left behind in a military storage house in Delhi. Drivers purchased these bikes, added on a gear box (probably from aWillys jeep), welded on a passenger compartment that was good for four to six passengers, and put the unconventional vehicles onto the roads. A 1998 ruling of theSupreme Courtagainst the use of polluting vehicles finally signed the death warrant of Delhi's phat-phatis.

As of 2022India has about 2.4 million battery-powered, three-wheeled rickshaws on its roads. Some 11,000 new ones hit the streets each month, creating a US$3.1 billion market. Manufacturers include Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. and Kinetic Engineering. A prerequisite for the adoption to electric vehicles is the availability of charging stations; as of early 2024, India had 12,146 public EV charging stations operational across the country.

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  CNG green auto rickshaw in New Delhi
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  A Bajaj Auto rickshaw inBangalore
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  A Piaggio Ape auto rickshaw inKerala
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  A TVS auto rickshaw inChennai
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  An electric rickshaw at abattery swappingpoint
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  Three wheeler cargo auto-rickshaw used in India
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  Indian auto-rickshaw adapted withtrailer
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  Erisha electric passenger and cargo Auto rickshaws in India

Generally rickshaw fares are controlled by the government,however auto (and taxi) driver unions frequently go on strike demanding fare hikes. They have also gone on strike multiple times in Delhi to protest against the government andHigh Court's 2012 order to installGPSsystems, and even though GPS installation in public transport was made mandatory in 2015, as of 2017 compliance remains very low.

The 200 cc variant of theBajaj Autoauto rickshaw was used in the 2022Rickshaw Runto set the record for the world's highest auto rickshaw, over theUmling LaPass, at 5,798 meters (19,022 feet)

Nepal

Auto rickshaws were a popular mode of transport in Nepal during the 1980s and 1990s, until the government banned the movement of 600 such vehicles in the early 2000s.The earliest auto rickshaws running in Kathmandu were manufactured by Bajaj Auto.

Nepal has been a popular destination for theRickshaw Run.The 2009 Fall Run took place inGoa,India and ended inPokhara,Nepal.

Pakistan

Auto rickshaws are a popular mode of transport in Pakistani townsand are mainly used for travelling short distances within cities. One of the major manufacturers of auto rickshaws isPiaggio.The government is taking measures to convert all gasoline powered auto rickshaws to cleaner CNG rickshaws by 2015 in all the major cities of Pakistan by issuing easy loans through commercial banks.Environment Canadais implementing pilot projects inLahore,Karachi,andQuettawith engine technology developed inMississauga,Ontario, Canada that uses CNG instead of gasoline in the two-stroke engines, in an effort to combatenvironmental pollutionand noise levels.

In many cities in Pakistan, there are also motorcycle rickshaws, usually called "chand gari" (moon car) or "chingchi", after the Chinese companyJinan Qingqi Motorcycle Co. Ltdwho first introduced these to the market.

There are many rickshaw manufacturers in Pakistan. Lahore is the hub of CNG auto rickshaw manufacturing. Manufacturers include: New Asia automobile Pvt, Ltd; AECO Export Company; STAHLCO Motors; Global Sources; Parhiyar Automobiles; Global Ledsys Technologies; Siwa Industries; Prime Punjab Automobiles; Murshid Farm Industries; Sazgar Automobiles; NTN Enterprises; and Imperial Engineering Company.

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  Chingchee in Pakistan
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  Auto rickshaw,Karachi
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  Auto rickshaw,Karachi
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  Auto rickshaw,Lahore

Sri Lanka

Trishaw inPolonnaruwa,Sri Lanka

Auto rickshaws, commonly known as three-wheelers, tuk-tuks (Sinhala:ටුක් ටුක්,pronounced[ṭukṭuk]), autos, or trishaws can be found on all roads inSri Lankatransporting people or freight. Sri Lankan three-wheelers are of the style of the light Phnom Penh-type. Most of the three-wheelers in Sri Lanka are a slightly modified IndianBajajmodel, imported from India though there are few manufactured locally and increasingly imports from other countries in the region and other brands of three-wheelers such asPiaggio Ape.Three-wheelers were introduced to Sri Lanka for the first time around 1979 byRichard Pieris & Company.As of mid-2018,a new gasoline powered tuk-tuk typically costs aroundUS$4,300,while a newly introduced Chinese electric model cost aroundUS$5,900.Since 2008, the Sri Lankan government has banned the import of all 2-stroke gasoline engines due to environmental concerns.Ones imported to the island now are four-stroke engines. Most three-wheelers are available as hired vehicles, with few being used to haul goods or as private company or advertising vehicles. Bajaj enjoys a virtual monopoly in the island, with its agent being David Pieries Motor Co, Ltd.A few three-wheelers in Sri Lanka have distance meters. In the capital city it is becoming more and more common. The vast majority of fares are negotiated between the passenger and driver. There are 1.2 million trishaws in Sri Lanka and most are on financial loans.

In Sri Lanka, tourists are able to drive a tuktuk. Through the Automobile Association of Ceylon, tourists are able to get a temporary Recognition Permit which allows them to drive a three-wheeler legally.

Southeast Asia

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  Tuktuks andpalmyra palmson the Mekong bank in Thakhek, Laos
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  Tuk-tuk taxi sidecar in Laos
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  Tuk-tuk,Phnom Penh,Cambodia

Cambodia

InCambodia,a passenger-carrying three-wheeled vehicle is known asរ៉ឺម៉កrœmâkfrom the Frenchremorque.It is a widely used form of transportation in the capital of Phnom Penh and for visitors touring theAngkortemples inSiem Reap.Some have four wheels and is composed of a motorcycle (which leans) and trailer (which does not). Cambodian cities have a much lower volume of automobile traffic than Thai cities, and tuk-tuks are still the most common form of urban transport. There are more than 6,000 tuk-tuks in Phnom Penh, according to the Independent Democracy of Informal Economy Association (IDEA), a union that represents tuk-tuk drivers among other members.

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Indonesia

InIndonesia,auto rickshaws are popular inJakartaasBajay,Java,MedanandGorontaloasBentor,and some parts ofSulawesiand other places in the country. In Jakarta, the auto rickshaws are calledBajayorBajajand they are the same to as the ones in India but are colored blue (for the ones which useCompressed natural gas) and orange (for the ones which use normal gasoline fuel).The blue ones are imported from India with the brand ofBajajandTVSand the orange ones are the old design from 1977. The orange ones uses two-stroke engines as their prime mover, while the blue ones use four stroke engines. The orange bajaj has been banned since 2017 due to emission regulations.The Bajaj is one of the most popular modes of transportation in the city. Outside of Jakarta, thebentor-style auto rickshaw is ubiquitous, with the passenger cabin mounted as a sidecar (like in Medan) or in-front (like the ones in some parts of Sulawesi) to a motorcycle.

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  Bentor in North Sumatra
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  Bentor inTana Toraja,South Sulawesi
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  2-stroke Bajaj inBanjarmasin,South Kalimantan
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  4-stroke Bajaj inJakarta
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  Former 2-stroke orange Bajaj in Jakarta

Philippines

Main article:Motorized tricycle (Philippines)

See also:Cycle rickshaw § Philippines

In thePhilippines,a similar mode ofpublic transportis the "tricycle"(Filipino:traysikel;Cebuano:traysikol).Unlike auto rickshaws, however, it has amotorcycle with a sidecarconfiguration and a different origin. The exact date of its appearance in the Philippines is unknown, but it started appearing after World War 2, roughly at the same time as the appearance of thejeepney.It is most likely derived from theRikuoType 97military motorcycle used by theImperial Japanese Armyin the Philippines starting at 1941. The motorcycle was essentially a licensed copy of aHarley-Davidsonwith a sidecar.However, there is also another hypothesis which places the origin of the tricycle to the similarly built "trisikad",a human-poweredcycle rickshawbuilt in the same configuration as the tricycle. However, the provenance of the trisikad is also unknown. Prior to the tricycles and trisikad, the most common means of mass public transport in the Philippines is a carriage pulled by horses orcarabaosknown as thekalesa(calesaorcarromatainPhilippine Spanish).Thepulled rickshawnever gained acceptance in the Philippines. Americans tried to introduce it in the early 20th century, but it was strongly opposed by local Filipinos who viewed it as an undignified mode of transport that turned humans into "beasts".

The design and configuration oftricyclesvary widely from place to place, but tends towards rough standardization within each municipality. The usual design is a passenger or cargosidecarfitted to a motorbike, usually on the right of the motorbike. It is rare to find one with a left sidecar. A larger variant of the tricycle with the motorcycle in the center enclosed by a passenger cab with two side benches is known as a "motorela". It is found on the islands ofMindanao,Camiguin,andBohol.Another notable variant is the tricycles of theBatanes Islandswhich have cabs made from wood and roofed with thatchedcogon grass.InPagadian City,tricycles are also uniquely built with the passenger cab slanting upwards, due to the city's streets that run along steep hills.

Tricycles can carry three passengers or more in the sidecar, one or twopillionpassengers behind the driver, and even a few on the roof of the sidecar. Tricycles are one of the main contributors to air pollution in the Philippines,which account for 45% of allvolatile organic compoundemissionssince majority of them employ two-stroke engines. However, some local governments are working towards phasing out two-stroke tricycles for ones with cleaner four-stroke engines.

Tuk-Tuks have now been accepted as Three-Wheeled Vehicles by theLand Transportation Office (Philippines)as distinct from tricycles and are now seen in Philippine streets. Electric versions are now seen especially in the city of Manila where they are called e-trikes.Combustion engine tuktuks are locally distributed byTVS MotorsandBajaj Autothrough dealerships

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  Motorized tricycle,Dumaguete
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  7-passenger tricycle with large sidecar, province ofAklan
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  Tricycle stand, Banaue Municipal Town

Thailand

The auto rickshaw, called tuk-tuk (Thai:ตุ๊ก ๆ,pronounced[túktúk]) in Thailand, is a widely used form of urban transport inBangkokand other Thai cities. The name isonomatopoeic,mimicking the sound of a small (often two-cycle) engine. It is particularly popular wheretraffic congestionis a major problem, such as in Bangkok andNakhon Ratchasima.In Bangkok in the 1960s, these were called samlaws, and it is still popularly called that today.

Bangkok and other cities in Thailand have many tuk-tuks which are a more open variation on the Indian auto rickshaw. About 20,000 tuk-tuks were registered as taxis in Thailand in 2017.Bangkok alone is reported to have 9,000 tuk-tuks.

Tuk-tuk hua kob (ตุ๊ก ๆ หัวกบ,pronounced[túktúkhua̯kop̚],literally: frog-headed tuk tuk) is a unique tuk tuk with a cab looking like a frog's head. OnlyPhra Nakhon Si AyutthayaandTranghave vehicles like this.

in 2018,MuvMi,an electric tuk-tukride hailingservice launched in Bangkok.

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  Tuk-tuk in Bangkok
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  Police tuk-tuk,Chiang Mai
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  Electrictuk-tuk inChiang Mai
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  Thai northeast (Isan)-style half tuk-tuk/halfsongthaew,Udon Thani (it known as "skylab")
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  Tuk-tuk hua kob, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya
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  ElectricMuvMituk-tuk inBangkok

East Asia

China

Auto rickshaw Haikou

Various types of auto rickshaw are used around China, where they are called sān lún chē ( tam luân xa ) and sometimes sān bèng zǐ ( tam bính tử ), meaning three wheeler or tricycle. They may be used to transport cargo or passengers in the more rural areas. However, in many urban areas the auto rickshaws for passengers are often operated illegally as they are considered unsafe and an eyesore.They are permitted in some towns and cities, however. The Southeast Asian word tuk tuk is transliterated as dū dū chē ( đô đô xa, or beep beep car) in Chinese.

Europe

France

A number of tuk-tuks (250 in 2013 according to the Paris Prefecture) are used as an alternative tourist transport system in Paris, some of them being pedal-operated with electric motor assist. They are not yet fully licensed to operate and await customers on the streets. Vélotaxis were common during the Occupation years in Paris due to fuel restrictions.

Italy

An Ape C (1956–1967)

Auto rickshaws have been commonly used in Italy since the late 1940s, providing a low-cost means of transportation in the post–World War II years when the country was short of economic resources. ThePiaggio Ape(Tukxi), designed byVespacreatorCorradino D'Ascanioand first manufactured in 1948 by the Italian companyPiaggio,though primarily designed for carrying freight has also been widely used as an auto rickshaw. It is still extremely popular throughout the country, being particularly useful in the narrow streets found in the center of many little towns in central and southern Italy. Though it no longer has a key role in transportation, Piaggio Ape is still used as a minitaxi in some areas such as the islands ofIschiaandStromboli(on Stromboli no cars are allowed). It has recently been re-launched as a trendy-ecological means of transportation, or, relying on the role the Ape played in the history of Italian design, as a promotional tool.

Portugal

Tuk Tuk Taxi in Albufeira Portugal

Tuk Tuks are used in the main touristic cities and regions of the country, specially inLisbonand the sunny region ofAlgarve,as a novel form of transport for visitors during the tourist season.

United Kingdom

In 2006 a British travel writer –Antonia Bolingbroke-Kent– and her friend Jo Huxster travelled 12,561 miles (20,215 km) with an auto rickshaw fromBangkoktoBrighton.With this 98 days' trip they set aGuinness World Recordfor the longest journey ever with an auto rickshaw. In October 2022,Gwentpolice spent £40,000 on four tuk tuk vehicles in order to help fight crime.

Montenegro

Tuk Tuk Montenegro has implemented tours withelectric tuk-tuksinKotor,Montenegroin 2018.

The Americas

Bajajmototaxis in El Salvador

El Salvador

Themototaxiormotois the El Salvadoran version of the auto rickshaw. These are most commonly made from the front end and engine of a motorcycle attached to a two-wheeled passenger area in back. Commercially produced models, such as the IndianBajajbrand, are also employed.

Guatemala

In Guatemala tuk-tuks operate, both as taxis and private vehicles, inGuatemala City,around the island town ofFlores,Peten,in the mountain city ofAntigua Guatemala,and in many small towns in the mountains. In 2005 the tuk-tuks were prevalent in theLago de Atitlántowns ofPanajachelandSantiago Atitlán.While tuk-tuks continue to serve as a prevalent form of transportation in Antigua Guatemala, their use throughout the country as a whole has declined.

United States

In the 1950s and 1960s, theUnited States Post Office(replaced in 1971 by theUnited States Postal Service) used theWestCoaster Mailster,a close relative of the tuk-tuk.Similar vehicles remain in limited use for parking enforcement, mall security, and other niche applications. After a short time on the market (Mid-2000s to 2008) in the United States,the vehicles failed to gain popularity in the United States, and as a result, are no longer available. The ManufacturerBajajcited the manual transmissions aboard the three-wheelers as the reason for poor sales. As a result of modifications that made the machinesEPAandDOTcompliant, the vehicles that were sold are still street-legal.

Westcoaster Mailster

Auto rickshaws are rarely seen in the United States, However there are companies that operate them as taxis, affordable transportation services, or rentals, usually in urban areas like Tuk Tuk Chicago inChicago,Capital Tuk-Tuk inSacramento,eTuk Ride Denver inDenver,the Boston rickshaw company inBostonand several more.

TheNew York Police Department(NYPD) operates auto rickshaws that they call “three-wheel patrol scooters”. The patrol scooters are used for parking and traffic enforcement on city streets and to patrol places that most cars can't – like the narrow paths inCentral Park.The NYPD patrol scooters started being replaced in 2016 withSmart Fortwos.The NYPD believes that the Smart Fourtwos are safer, more comfortable, and more affordable, than the three-wheel patrol scooters due to the Smart Fourtwos coming with features that the patrol scooters lack like air conditioning, and airbags, while also costing about $6,000 less. The Smart Fortwos can also be driven on highways if needed. The Smart Fortwos are also said to be more “approachable” and “friendlier looking” which helps withpublic relations.

Cuba

In Cuba, the autorickshaws are small and look like a coconut, hence the nameCocotaxi.

Cocotaxis in Havana, Cuba

Peru

In Peru, a version of this vehicle is called a motocaror mototaxi.

Fuel efficiency and pollution

In July 1998, theSupreme Court of Indiaordered the government of Delhi to implement CNG orLPG(Autogas)fuelfor all autos and for the entire bus fleet in and around the city. Delhi's air quality has improved with the switch to CNG. Initially, auto rickshaw drivers in Delhi had to wait in long queues for CNG refueling, but the situation improved following an increase in the number of CNG stations. Gradually, many state governments passed similar laws, thus shifting to CNG or LPG vehicles in most large cities to improve air quality and reduce pollution. Certain local governments are pushing forfour-stroke enginesinstead of two-stroke ones. Typicalmileagefor an Indian-made auto rickshaw is around 35 kilometres per litre (99 mpg_‑imp;82 mpg_‑US) of petrol. Pakistan has passed a similar law prohibiting auto rickshaws in certain areas. CNG auto rickshaws have started to appear in huge numbers in many Pakistani cities.

In January 2007 the Sri Lankan government also banned two-stroke trishaws to reduce air pollution. In the Philippinesthere are projects to convert carbureted two-stroke engines to direct-injected viaEnvirofittechnology. Research has shown LPG or CNG gas direct-injection can be retrofitted to existing engines, in similar fashion to the Envirofit system.InVigan Citymajority of tricycles-for-hire as of 2008 are powered by motorcycles with four-stroke engines, as tricycles with two-stroke motorcycles are prevented from receiving operating permits. Direct injection is standard equipment on new machines in India.

In March 2009 an international consortium coordinated by theInternational Centre for Hydrogen Energy Technologiesinitiated a two-year public-private partnership of local and international stakeholders aiming at operating a fleet of 15 hydrogen-fueled three-wheeled vehicles in New Delhi'sPragati Maidancomplex.As of January 2011, the project was nearing completion.

Hydrogen internal combustion(HICV) use in three-wheelers has only recently being started to be looked into, mainly by developing countries, to decrease local pollution at an affordable cost.At some point,Bajaj Automade a HICV auto rickshaw together with the company "Energy Conversion Devices".They made a report on it called "Clean Hydrogen Technology for 3-Wheel Transportation in India" and it stated that the performance was comparable with CNG autos. In 2012, Mahindra & Mahindra showcased their first HICV auto rickshaw, called the Mahindra HyAlfa.The development of the hydrogen-powered rickshaw happened with support from theInternational Centre for Hydrogen Energy Technologies.

World records

On 16 September 2022, at 11:04 a.m. (Indian Standard Time), a Canadian team (Greg Harris and Priya Singh) and a Swiss team (Michele Daryanani and Nevena Lazarevic) set the world record for the highest altitude at which an auto rickshaw has ever been driven. The world record was officially recognized and certified by Guinness World Records on October 10, 2024.The two teams set the record by driving to the summit ofUmling LaPass at an altitude of 5,798 meters (19,022 feet).

The two teams were participating in theRickshaw Run(Himalayan Edition), an event promoted by The Adventurists, where teams drive auto rickshaws from theThar deserttown ofJaisalmerin Rajasthan to theHimalayantown ofLehinLadakh.Rickshaw Run teams are given the start and finish lines, but are otherwise unsupported and left to their own navigational choices in completing the approximately 2,300 km journey.

The road at Umling La Pass was constructed by India's Border Roads Organization and completed in 2017. Guinness World Records certified the road as the highest motorable road in the world.

See also

• E-tricycle
• Fuel gas-powered scooter
• Formic acid vehicle:a type of hydrogen-based vehicle
• Jeepney
• Rickshaw (disambiguation)

External links

• The India 1000– an article inWiredabout auto rickshaw racing