With No Engineering Degree this Andhra Pradesh Man Built an Expanding Shape-Shifting eJeep to Beat Traffic

Traffic jams are a daily occurrence in India’s metro cities. Millions spend hours stuck on the road, losing time and energy. 

For Sudhir, an innovator from Andhra Pradesh, this everyday problem became personal. 

He asked a simple question: what if cars could adjust themselves to fit the situation? 

That question pushed him to build something unusual, unlike anything seen before.

Meet the Innovator

The man behind this futuristic invention is Rayavarapu Sudheer Anvesh Kumar, a 31-year-old from Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh.

He grew up between Kakinada and Tirupati and completed his graduation in 2014. Before turning to innovation, he worked as an HR manager.

But life at home was never easy. His father was often unwell, and much of his childhood was spent trying to balance studies with family struggles.

“I don’t have an engineering background, but I always aspired to be an engineer. It didn’t go as planned because my father was very sick from my childhood. From then on, I struggled a lot to settle in life. But still, I kept my savings and built this,” he told Startup Pedia in an exclusive interview.

Even as a boy, Sudhir enjoyed experimenting. He once came up with “magnetic cricket” while in school and often tried small engineering projects.

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But Why Build an Expandable Jeep?

The idea for a shape-shifting Jeep came from Sudheer’s daily struggle with Bengaluru traffic. 

“While I was in Bangalore, there was a lot of traffic. When I was going in my brother’s car, it was taking up a lot of space. A bike could move within half an hour, but the car was taking two hours. So, I thought if the car could be minimized, that would be good,” he explained.

But for Sudheer, it was not just about solving traffic, it was also about proving himself. 

“Whatever ideas I have are ambitious. I have to do something impactful because people need to trust me. If they trust me, then I can work on future projects. So, I chose to build this eJeep.” he said.

But he is realistic about the impact.

“I cannot solve the traffic problem 100%, but I can reduce it by at least 30%,” he admitted.

Melchi Zedek - The Shape-shifting Expandable Jeep

At first glance, Sudheer’s invention looks like a simple Jeep without a roof. But the technology inside makes it out of the ordinary. 

The vehicle can shift between two forms depending on the situation. When driven by a single person, it can shrink to the width of a bike, just over two feet, and glide through heavy traffic with ease. With the press of a control, it expands back to a four-seater car, wide enough for family or friends.

“It’s a demo. It won’t run on the roads. In the future, it will come with a roof like an AC luxury car. The seats also won’t flip, they will slide inside the seat.” Sudheer clarified, addressing misconceptions about the prototype.

The Jeep is powered by a battery and uses a hydraulic system for its transformation. Despite being lightweight at just over 400 kilograms, it can carry a load of up to 1.5 tonnes.

Key features include:

• Compact mode: two seats; Expanded mode: four seats (driver plus three passengers)

• AI sensors that prevent expansion or contraction if people are nearby

• Expansion limited to designated parking areas, not open roads

Sudheer finished this project within 90 days and in May 2025, he put his creation to the test at Karnamgari Junction in Kakinada. The trial run was a success, and the videos went viral online. 

Soon, universities like JNTU and Aditya invited him to showcase his innovation. He eventually gave the prototype a name, MZ (Melchi Zedek), inspired by global automobile giants like BMW.

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The Cost of Building the Prototype

While building the prototype was no easy feat, investment was also a challenge for Sudheer, who used up his savings to build his dream. 

“For this, I purchased everything in retail. So, it took two lakh fifty thousand. But if I had bought the same things in wholesale, it could have been done for 1.25 lakh,” he said.

When his funds ran short, a family member stepped in. “It wasn’t my grandmother, as some people wrote. Actually, it was my mother’s sister. She helped me in the end because my money was not enough for this big project.”

Except for welding, Sudheer built everything himself, designing, painting, and assembling the Jeep entirely on his own.

Recognition and Response

The Jeep has attracted widespread attention both in India and abroad.

“Actually, I thought that if 100 people saw my content, 50 would criticize me and 50 would encourage me. But what happened is 99 people encouraged me. Only 1 percent negativity was there. I never expected that.” Sudheer said with a smile.

Since unveiling the prototype in May 2025, he has been invited by universities like JNTU and Aditya. A Padma Shri–awarded army officer also recognized his work, and the Telangana government has shown interest. International calls have come too.

“I got calls from Canada, USA, London, even Israel. They said they need this vehicle in Gaza, when navigating narrow roads. But they wanted it bulletproof. I told them I don’t have expertise in bulletproofing, but we can collaborate in the future,” he explained.

In just one month, Sudheer visited 30 cities, meeting investors and presenting his invention.

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The Vision Ahead

Mass production, however, requires significant investment. 

“To build Jeeps and cars like this on a large scale, nearly Rs 75 Cr to 100 Cr is required,” Sudheer admitted. 

Talks with investors are underway, with some documentation already in progress. But his vision does not stop at cars. 

“This formula should not apply only to cars and jeeps. It should be a universal formula. It can be used in robots, drones, space rovers, and even ambulances.” he shared.

He even imagines everyday applications. “A lot of expandable stuff is possible, like carry vans, beds, and sofas. When it minimizes, everything inside it also minimizes.”

A Message to the Youth

Sudheer is deeply concerned about how young people spend their time.

“In India especially, there is nobody to motivate you towards AI or robotics. The youth are busy scrolling Instagram and Facebook,” he observed. “My suggestion is, if you spend three hours on your phone, at least spend two hours on entertainment and one hour on inventions.”

He encourages young innovators to study global trends. “If you keep watching inventions from China or Japan, your feed will automatically be filled with those ideas. Then new ideas will come to mind. Take that idea and think how it can be used in another way. That is how I worked on my formula.” 

His advice is simple: be curious, be creative, and turn inspiration into innovation.

The expanding, shape-shifting Jeep may still be in its early stages, but it stands as a bold example of Indian ingenuity. 

As Sudheer puts it: “I just want success. I just want to create a company that provides employment. My main motive is that something unique from India should come out as an invention.”

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