In Asia, around four million “ecotaxis” are currently in operation. Otherwise known as rickshaws, these muscle-driven vehicles are an important and environmentally-friendly means of transport. They can be found in India, Bangladesh, Nepal, China, Vietnam and several other countries in South-, East-, and South-East Asia. Yet, in many of these nations, rickshaws are finding it increasingly hard to survive - indeed, in some cities, plans are already afoot to ban them.

Curiously enough, the opposite tendency is observable in several German and European cities. In Berlin, Munich, Giessen, Frankfurt, Regensburg, Prague and Amsterdam, the rickshaw – that most Asian of all vehicles – is an increasingly familiar sight in inner-city traffic.

These developments inspired us to organise an exhibition that would promote public understanding of the “rickshaw phenomenon”. For many years now, we have taken an intense interest in the countries of Asia. The rickshaw provides one way of grasping various facets of everyday life in the region, and the exhibition aims to show some of the vehicle’s social, cultural and historical dimensions.

The “Ecotaxi” exhibition demonstrates the important role played by the rickshaw in many Asian nations. It documents the vehicle’s technical development from the early sedan form via the “jin-” and cycle variants to the contemporary motorised versions (which even include “robot rickshaws”). In addition, the exhibition shows the various forms of rickshaw predominating in the respective Asian countries.