Due to EU regulations, it will only be available in India and Africa in the future
What is the quintessential Italian cult car for us British holidaymakers in Italy? Of course, the Fiat 500 and its successors, including the Uno and Panda. And of course the Vespa. But let’s not forget the small cargo tricycle derived from it, the Ape, which means “bee” in English. However, after more than seven decades, production and sales of the tiny model are now coming to an end.
The three-wheeled transporter series came onto the market one year after the Vespa (Italian for “wasp”) to support the reconstruction of Italy. The original type of Ape from 1947 was actually a Vespa with a loading area and a payload of 200 kilograms. The Ape A had a Vespa engine with a capacity of 125 cc under the seat.
The Ape B with 150 cc came onto the market in 1953. This model was built with minor modifications until 1956. The Ape C, the first model with a cabin, appeared in 1956. The rare Pentaro from 1960 is a five-wheeled version of the Ape C in the form of a semi-trailer with a higher load capacity.
The Ape 50 was introduced in 1969. It was built for light transport, could only carry 200 kilograms and was equipped with a cabin. The Ape 50 was the first model in the Ape series to belong to the moped category. It can be ridden in Italy from the age of 14 with an AM driving licence and only has room for one passenger (driver). The Ape Car was introduced in 1971. It had a reasonably comfortable cabin, a 218.9 cc engine and a 550 kg load capacity as a transporter, 612 kg with a loading area.
That’s the story in a nutshell. Now to the future. As the Italian news agency ANSA reports, this lies in India. This is where production will move to after 76 years in Italy. According to sources close to the industrial group, the Ape will now be manufactured exclusively for the Indian and African markets due to new, stricter emissions and safety regulations from the European Union. The plant in Pontedera will be converted for the production of the electric Porter small lorry.
Piaggio Ape for India (2020)
As ANSA further reports, the decision has been communicated to the trade unions in recent days, who are not surprised by the announcement. “Apart from the romantic aspect of attachment to the country, it is a decision that is in a way mandatory. The Ape is a Euro 4 two-stroke, the introduction of a Euro 5 two-stroke is a complicated matter from a technical point of view. It would be necessary to change the engine, but then it would no longer be an Ape,” Angelo Capone, Secretary of FIOM Pisa, is quoted as saying.
Samuele Nacci from the UILM also believes that “With the current regulations, there is no more room for manoeuvre to produce in Italy. We mourn a piece of Pontedera’s history that is leaving us, while the Ape continues to be produced in other factories in other countries. Perhaps some laws have been introduced a little prematurely, it seems that only Europe cares about pollution, while the rest of the world doesn’t give a damn”.
In addition to the necessary conversion to Euro 5, it is rumoured that airbags are even necessary in order to be able to continue to offer the Ape in Europe. In Italy, only the Ape 50 is still available at prices starting at €7,140 (approx. £6,000).
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Source:
ansa.it