Meet the auto driver who has 2 TED talks and 10,000 FB followers under his belt
In 2012, G Annadurai aka Auto Annadurai, a class 12 dropout, stunned Chennai with his auto. Stocked with magazines, books, newspapers, a small TV and a Wi-Fi connection, Auto Annadurai’s auto took every Chennaiite by surprise, reported The Hindu. Auto Annadurai has come a long way since. Chennai’s most-loved auto driver, 31, now has 10,000 followers on Facebook, more than 40 speeches at corporate offices, and two TED talks under his belt, reports The Weekend Leader. Auto Annadurai has addressed employees of Vodafone, Hyundai, Royal Enfield, Danfoss and Gamesa, and has flown to more than a dozen Indian cities on speaking assignments.
To the amenities in his auto, Anna has added a laptop, tablet, and an iPad, for passengers who’d like to browse while commuting on Old Mahabalipuram Road. Last year, Anna installed a swiping machine to eliminate the problem of change, for the convenience of his passengers. Anna charges a flat rate of Rs 10, 15, 20 and 25, depending on the distance.
Anna offers free or discounted rides on special days. Teachers are offered free rides on a daily basis, lovers on Valentine’s Day, and women travelling with their children on Mother’s Day. Anna wants to make sure that every customer of his is happy. Anna earns Rs 45,000 a month and spends about Rs 9,000 on the different services he provides. Now, Anna is preparing to launch an app that will enable customers to track the movement of his auto, check seat availability, and book a ride.
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