CHECK OUT THESE INTERESTING VARIATIONS AND NICK-NAMES FOR TUK TUKS FOUND ARIOUN THE WORLD

How many different auto rickshaw types, designs, and variations are there?  Let's check out a few of the many different types of auto rickshaws from around the world.

An auto rickshaw  also known as a tuk-tuk is a motorized version of the traditional pulled rickshaw or cycle rickshaw.

SUDAN: Rickshaws, known as "Raksha" in Sudan most common mean of transportation followed by the bus in the capital Khartoum.

TANZANIA: Locally known as "bajaji

EGYPT: Locally named the "toktok," the rickshaw is found in some parts of Egypt.

Toktok-egypt
Toktok-egypt
Tok Tok in Egypt Wael.kenawey [CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)]

NIGERIA: In Lagos Tuk Tuks are known as "keke"

INDIA: 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.   in Delhi there also used to be a variant (now outlawed) powered by a Harley-Davidson engine called the phat-phati. As of 2018 India has about 1.5 million battery-powered, three-wheeled rickshaws on its roads. Some 11,000 new ones hit the streets each month.

phat phat delhi
phat phat delhi

A ride by a three-wheeler autorickshaw in India is commonplace and would usually not attract any attention. However, there is a particular breed of three wheeler that had left an indelible imprint in the minds of people who were fortunate to have experienced it. This was the “phatphatis” or “phatphats” of Delhi. Legend has it that British troops had left behind several Harley Davidson motorbikes when they departed from India. Some enterprising Indians purchased these bikes, added on a gear box (probably from a Willys jeep), welded on a passenger compartment that was good for four passengers, and put the highly unusual and unconventional vehicle onto the roads of Delhi as a “taxi” of sorts.

Travelling in one of these “phatphatis” was a delight. Driven (ridden?) often by a burly Sardarji or a Haryanvi Jat, these vehicles would emit a deep staccato bellow that gave it the name “phatphati” or “phatphat”.

The driver straddled the vehicle as one would a motor cycle. The passengers in front faced forward, while those at the rear faced the rear. The vehicle had a roof made of tarpaulin covered in plastic and the sides had no windows – just an opening. -

thanks to https://hurryup1.wordpress.com/tag/phat-phati/ for historical info

phat-phati-tuk-tuk-india
phat-phati-tuk-tuk-india
Phat Phati tuk tuk in India Photo by @gsrance

MADAGASCAR: Known as "bajaji" in the north and "tuk-tuk" or "tik-tik" in the east

BANGLADESH: Auto rickshaws are locally called "baby taxis" and more recently "CNGs" due to their fuel source, compressed natural gas.

Cngs in Dhaka auto-rickshaw
Cngs in Dhaka auto-rickshaw
Cngs in Dhaka Photo by: By Volunteer Marek - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=20510202

CAMBODIA: Different from tuk-tuks in most of the world each has four wheels and is a motorcycle (which leans) and trailer (which does not).

Cambodia tuk tuk  4 wheels
Cambodia tuk tuk 4 wheels
Cambodia tuk tuk with motorcycle Photo by: ajai [CC BY 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)]

GUATUMALA: Vehicles are referred to as tuk-tuks in Guatemala.

CUBA: "Cocotaxi" is an auto rickshaw-type taxi vehicle in Cuba. The name comes from the word coco, which means coconut. The shell of the body is yellow and is typically round, giving it the appearance of a half-coconut.

Coco Taxis in Havana Cuba
Coco Taxis in Havana Cuba
Coco Taxis in Havana Cuba Photo by: Emmanuel Huybrechts from Laval, Canada [CC BY 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)]

PAKISTAN: In addition to auto -rickshaws in many cities in Pakistan, there are motorcycle rickshaws, called "chand gari" (moon car) or "chingchi" (after the Chinese company that 1st brought them to the market)

Chingchee-in-Pakistan-tuk-tuk
Chingchee-in-Pakistan-tuk-tuk
Chingchee in Pakistan

THAILAND: The "Tuk Tuk" name is onomatopoeic, mimicking the sound of a small (often two-cycle) engine. An equivalent English term would be "putt-putt"

Tuk Tuk In Thailand
Tuk Tuk In Thailand
Tuk Tuk In Thailand Photo by: Terence Ong [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)]

ITALY: Commonly used in Italy since the late 1940s, The Piaggio Ape "Tukxi" designed by the Vespa creator is the most popular model.

Blue Ape Calessino - Piaggio Ape
Blue Ape Calessino - Piaggio Ape
Classic Blue Ape Calessino - Piaggio Ape Photo by: Fiver, der Hellseher [CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)]

UNITED KINGDOM: Tuk Tuks & Auto Rickshaws were first introduced into the UK by Tukshop in 2004.

lucky-tuk-tuk-group-charter-private-tour-day-night
Private Charter Private Charter San Francisco Tuk Tuk City Tour
Explore beautiful San Francisco in your own private, electric Tuk Tuk! Perfect for families and groups. A personal guide for your party commandeers this modern-day rickshaw at a pace that’s right for you!

EL SALVADOR: "mototaxi' or "moto" is the El Salvadoran version of the auto rickshaw.

Bajaj-mototaxi-in-El-Salvador
Bajaj-mototaxi-in-El-Salvador
Bajaj mototaxi in El Salvador Photo by: Mariordo (Mario Roberto Durán Ortiz) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)]

CHINA: Called sān lún chē and sometimes sān bèng zǐ  - meaning three wheeler or tricycle. The word tuk tuk is transliterated as dū dū chē -  beep beep car.

INDONESIA: Auto rickshaws are called "Bajay' or "Bajaj" Outside of Jakarta, the bentor-style auto rickshaw is ubiquitous, with the passenger cabin mounted as a sidecar.

Bajaj-autorickshaws-Jakarta
Bajaj-autorickshaws-Jakarta
Bajaj autorickshaws at a traffic signal in Jakarta. Photo: Pallavi Aiyer

PHILIPPINES:  Referred to as "tricycles" - in Filipino traysikel and Cebuano traysikol.  Usual design is a passenger or cargo sidecar fitted to a motorbike.

trycyle pedicab in Philippines
trycyle pedicab in Philippines
Trycyle pedicabs in Philippines photo by: http://ffemagazine.com/filipino-icon-tricycle-pedicab/

SRI LANKA: Auto rickshaws are known as "three-wheelers" tuk-tuks or "trishaws"

tuk-tuk-taxi-sri-lanka
tuk-tuk-taxi-sri-lanka
Tuk Tuk Taxi in Sri Lanka photo by: calflier001 [CC BY-SA 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)]

golden gate bridge at night
Private Charter Lucky Tuk Tuk at Night Private Charter - San Francisco Lights Tour
Explore San Francisco at night in a cozy, electric Tuk Tuk! Get up close to the glittering lights and go where buses don’t dare in this modern-day rickshaw. Live commentary included!