Thailand then imported motorised auto rickshaws from Japan in 1960. They were developed to replace the cycle rickshaws. Tuk tuks are believed to get their somewhat out-of-the-ordinary name from the sound of the engine.

The iconic Thai "Tuk-Tuk" actually has its roots in Japan, specifically the motorized three-wheelers produced by Daihatsu and Mazda in the 1930s. Following World War II, these "midget cars" were imported to Thailand in the late 1950s to replace the traditional, labor-intensive cycle rickshaws (samlors). The name "Tuk-Tuk" is onomatopoeic, mimicking the distinct "tuk-tuk-tuk" sound of the early two-stroke, liquid-petroleum-gas (LPG) engines. By the 1960s, Thailand began manufacturing its own versions, primarily in Bangkok, evolving them into the colorful, open-air taxis seen today. Over the decades, they transitioned from being the primary mode of urban transport to a beloved cultural icon and tourist staple. In 2026, the history of the tuk-tuk is entering a new chapter with the "e-Tuk" revolution, as the government pushes to replace old, noisy engines with silent, electric versions to combat city pollution, ensuring this mid-century relic survives in a modern, eco-conscious Thailand.