Disabled take the wheel in Maruti rally

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 28

Fifty physically challenged persons and their families took part in a rally, specially organized by Maruti Udyog Ltd at the Hotel Inter Continental here today. Maruti is the only company that makes cars specially designed for the physically challenged. The participants were seen driving either the earlier Maruti 800 AT cars or the recently introduced Zen Easy Drive.

Earlier, when the participants arrived at the venue, they were given a time card, feedback form and a clue map. The cars were flagged off one by one at around 10 am.

The participants were also given a set of six cryptic clues and these clues helped them in identifying the six locations that were required to cover during the rally. Having cracked the clues, the participants had to decide the shortest possible route to cover all locations.

Besides, the routes had to be covered at an optimum average speed. Participants with the lowest penalty points were announced the winners.

After covering a distance of around 60 km, the participants started returning to the venue around afternoon. Back to the venue, there were a whole lot of fun and games for the participants and their family members. The first prize winner took home a gift voucher of Rs.20,000 while the second runner-up received a Kenwood stereo and the third runner-up a Nippon car alarm system.

Maruti Udyog launched the Zen-AX Easy Drive in August 2001.

Earlier, Maruti had manufactured 2,000 Maruti 800 cars for this special category. The Zen-AX Easy Drive gives the freedom of mobility to the physically challenged. The company has sold 120 Zen-AX Easy Drive cars in India out of which 56 customers are based in New Delhi.

Source: The Tribune
Dated :29th September, 2002