Troubled By Shoulder Pain, Bengaluru Uber Driver Builds Automatic Paddle Shifter

A video of an Uber driver who created an automatic paddle shifter on his cab’s dashboard has been winning over the internet. The driver, named Durai, made this modification to his cab after he suffered shoulder pain from frequently sharing the gears. Parth Parmar, a techie from Bengaluru, noticed this innovative creation when he took Durai’s cab while travelling from Marathahalli to HSR Layout. He shared a video in which Durai is explaining his improvisation. While sharing this clip, Parmar wrote, “This Uber driver designed a paddle shifter himself because he was having shoulder pain while changing gears. The whole thing cost him 9k!! This could be huge. I Hope he gets the right support and guidance to make it big. No dearth of talent in India. #peakbengalurumoment #Bengaluru #indiantalent.”

While speaking to Moneycontrol, Parmar said, “I booked an Uber for returning home and this guy picked me up. I noticed this gear lever shifting automatically as in the video and asked him if he had gotten the car modified. Durai said he made the changes a couple of weeks ago because his shoulder was hurting from shifting gears too much so he and his friend made this mechanism where he can shift gears using the stick behind the steering with some chips and relays and motor assembly.”

Durai told Parmar that he has received many requests from his friends in Bengaluru to make similar paddle shifters for them, but so far he has declined their requests because he is still perfecting the modification. Parmar said, “Durai said he is still testing it out. It breaks sometimes in the middle of the road so it still needs improvements, but he was planning to get it patented as soon as it works flawlessly.” Parmar warned Durai against selling his idea without a parent and offered his help to improve and expand the paddle shifter.

Commenting on the above-mentioned video, an X user wrote, “It’s fascinating how personal experiences can drive inventive solutions. This Uber driver’s ingenuity highlights the power of addressing discomfort with creative engineering. Forget the Batmobile, we’ve got the “Shoulder Saver” @Uber_India Kudos to the driver for turning gear changing into a pain-free, customized experience. It’s like upgrading your ride and your well being simultaneously.” Another person wrote, “Neccisity is the mother of invention.” Another person noted, “Oh Damn… How innovative!”