Egypt has unveiled a four-wheeled light vehicle powered by petrol and natural gas that will replace the country's 3.5 million tuk-tuks in a bid to reduce their environmental footprint.
The ministries of trade and industry and military production showed off a prototype of the new vehicle following Egyptian authorities decision on Tuesday evening to ban the import of tuk-tuks and set a plan to replace them using alternative vehicles.
Tuk-tuks are three-wheeled vehicles used as taxis, common in a number of countries including Egypt.
Minister of State for Military Production Mohamed Ahmed Morsi explained that this vehicle is a sample of a proposed project between the National Authority for Military Production and the private sector company GB Auto Ghabbour to provide an alternative four-wheeled vehicle.
Trade and Industry Minister Nevin Gamea said the vehicle will be produced with a dual system engine, petrol and natural gas, which reduces the cost of transportation and operation and makes it environmentally friendly.
The number of tuk-tuks in Egypt is approximately 3.5 million, according to estimates, of which just 10 percent have an official licence.
Some see them as a public nuisance while others find them a cheap, convenient method of transportation.
