[S2!!!]

Zoomcar, the Bangalore based self-drive car rental provider, has added auto rickshaws to its fleet!



Customers will now have the option to hire and actually scoot around in an auto rickshaw at Rs. 40 for a maximum duration of 30 minutes. Additionally, customers have to pay a security deposit of Rs. 5,000, which is refundable.

Since the website and app currently allows the customers to book a vehicle for a minimum of 4 hours, the price (Rs. 10 per hour) has been adjusted accordingly.

Every customer will be provided a 10-minute training session before being handed the key of the auto rickshaw. Post that, he / she will be allowed to drive for the remaining 20 minutes and will be accompanied by 2 professionals. Being a pilot project, the autos will be allowed to be driven within a 1 km radius of the pick-up site only.

This service is available in seven cities in India - Bangalore, Mumbai, Delhi NCR, Chennai, Hyderabad, Pune and Chandigarh.



To book a self-drive auto click here.

[condor]

What about the driving license ?

These machines can be mean - not very easy to control them. These are not very stable .. so best to steer away if you see one of these.

[SDP]

Isn't this coming a day too early?

[arun_kun]

Do people really want to hire a self drive auto rickshaw too?? Do we have market for that?

[vinair]

This looks more like a April 1st prank than anything else! You need to have a three wheeler license to drive one...

[landcruiser123]

How can one drive these machines without a license?
AFAIK, there is a separate category for 3 wheeler license.

Overall, a stupid venture. What are the long term gains?

If they give long term rentals:

1. Why would people rent Autos?
2. And where will they park it?
3. What if they get attacked by the Auto drivers in their city? (Auto drivers aren't nice in any city)

[Deepak Ramana]

how different is driving an auto from riding a chetak? i dont know for sure but im guessing it aint very much. and if thats the case, i just cant wait to get my hands on one of these! but, the license i am skeptical about. I really do believe theres a separate 3 wheeler license for autos, which is what leads me to think its just an april fool lol. But, if thats not the case, i sure do wanna book one and go to college a couple of times!

I just checked on the website and hell yes!! theyre offering the "zoom auto"!! Its no april fool :P

[SDP]

Every customer will be provided a 10-minute training session before being handed the key of the auto rickshaw.

Important aspects that would be covered as part of the training:

1. How to squeeze into impossible gaps in the traffic?
2. When someone asks "Andheri West chaloge?", how to completely ignore the guy, look straight and zoom ahead?
3. Which songs to play at the loudest volume setting in the Auto? (Hint: bass-heavy songs from C-grade Salman Khan flicks)
4. Where to get green lights for the interior lighting?
5. How to tow (rather push) a broken-down auto of a friend with just your leg?

[Zappo]

Originally Posted by SDP

Important aspects that would be covered as part of the training:

1. How to squeeze into impossible gaps in the traffic?
2. When someone asks "Andheri West chaloge?", how to completely ignore the guy, look straight and zoom ahead?
3. Which songs to play at the loudest volume setting in the Auto? (Hint: bass-heavy songs from C-grade Salman Khan flicks)
4. Where to get green lights for the interior lighting?
5. How to tow (rather push) a broken-down auto of a friend with just your leg?

Touche! You got 'em... Zoom started celebrating April early!

[DuHasstMich]

You missed the 'How to chew PAAN and spit like an expert' aspect!

This is hilarious.

[a*ed]

This in itself was such a big give-away that it's an April 1st prank:

Every customer will be provided a 10-minute training session before being handed the key of the auto rickshaw. Post that, he / she will be allowed to drive for the remaining 20 minutes and will be accompanied by 2 professionals. Being a pilot project, the autos will be allowed to be driven within a 1 km radius of the pick-up site only.

You'll get to rent the auto only for 30 minutes, out of which 10 minutes is for training and remaining 20 minutes you'll get to drive it with 2 "professionals" accompanying you and within a 1 KM radius!!

[bhandary]

Very Innovative by Zoom Car. Probably they will have this as one of their "Industry first" on their wall of fame in their Boardroom as an example of innovativeness for the next generation leaders.

Next what? Maybe drive a Bullock CARt or a Tractor!

[D C]

This seems to be a prank, just like Google Nose! If they are serious, they should be considering commercial vehicles and 2-wheelers instead.

Originally Posted by landcruiser123

How can one drive these machines without a license?
AFAIK, there is a separate category for 3 wheeler license.

Originally Posted by Deepak Ramana

how different is driving an auto from riding a chetak? i dont know for sure but im guessing it aint very much. and if thats the case, i just cant wait to get my hands on one of these! but, the license i am skeptical about. I really do believe theres a separate 3 wheeler license for autos, which is what leads me to think its just an april fool lol. But, if thats not the case, i sure do wanna book one and go to college a couple of times!

Driving an Auto requires a separate license and it is very different from driving a Chetak. I hold a 3-wheeler license and have driven almost every type of Auto available in the market, including the one with a steering wheel.