Last week, Mahindra chairman and managing director Anand Mahindra, took away a modified auto-rickshaw from a man in Kerala and gifted him a four-wheeled Supro mini van instead, just because the man seemed obsessed with one of Mahindra’s products – the Scorpio. He had modified his auto-rickshaw to resemble a Scorpio SUV from the rear.
But he’s not alone. There are many passionate auto-rickshaw fans out there who have used their creative juices to modify their boring old auto-rickshaw to futuristic vehicles. Here’s a select bunch.
Bade Ho Ke Mai Tata Nano Banunga
This auto-rickshaw owner seems obsessed with the Tata Nano. To his credit, the rear doors and the boot look quite similar to Tata Nano. But he also seems to have incorporated his love for SUVs and has gone for the look with a spare wheel on the boot.
Madam, First Floor Doorstep Pick Up!
This is probably beyond reason. Why would someone even build a double-decker auto-rickshaw? It goes against the laws of physics. Oh, and it looks like they forgot to put in stairs to get to the top deck, unless of course, it was meant to be boarded only from the first floor of a building! No, this is not an altered image.
The Auto Copter!
Until now, we had only imagined about flying cars, but this enterprising auto-rickshaw owner has them beat. This auto-copter really looks the real deal, except it probably isn’t.
The Cool Auto!
This auto-rickshaw driver is taking ingenuity to an all new level, with his air-cooled cabin. Indian summers can be grueling and this does look totally legit. It may not work too well in humid conditions though.
Air-conditioned Auto
Of course, there are genuinely good modifications as well. This air-conditioned auto-rickshaw was introduced in Mumbai a couple of years ago. While air-conditioned autos as a concept is cool, why didn’t the owner just think of getting a Tata Nano and run it as a cab? Modifying this auto would have almost cost as much, don’t you think?
Always Wear Ride A Helmet
This auto-rickshaw from Cuba takes wearing a helmet to an all-new level. This Cuban taxi looks like a helmet. It’s designed to offer the passenger some shelter from the sun, but not the poor driver.
Back To The Future Auto
This is a pretty nicely modified auto-rickshaw, given the theme its owner wanted. This auto was custom-built by John Tauro, the owner, for a journey he planned from Mangalore to New Delhi. The auto is equipped with an air-cooler, LCD television and a coffee vending machine among other things.
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