He Piaggio Ape He says goodbye to the city where he was born, Pontedera. Its manufacturing becomes exclusive to the Indian factory, and not, as until now, shared between both factories to cover global demand. The reasons? Purely material and bureaucratic, as has usually been the case in recent years when we refer to this type of decisions that affect companies in the sector.
The result of this strategic move by the Piaggio Group is still too early to assess. Currently around 2,500 people work in the Italian factory, a figure that has been gradually reduced since the 1960s. Then the company employed more than 12,000 people within the famous assembly line.
Piaggio Ape: The story of a death foretold
According to Moto.it colleagues, the company communicated its decision to the union delegates at the Pontedera factory a few weeks ago. In the letter they alleged that “The Ape will no longer be produced in Italy because adapting it to European safety standards, such as airbags and assisted braking systems, would be too expensive for Piaggio.”
But this is not all, since there are other purely bureaucratic factors that have also become the drops responsible for filling the glass overflowing with so much meaninglessness: The current regulations on environmental matters. The change to the new legislation makes it impossible for Piaggio to adapt the Ape’s engine to it, clarifying, even more if possible, the final idea of definitively moving its production to India.
Piaggio’s plans involve converting the line that until now was responsible for manufacturing the Ape, into another capable of doing the same with the electric Porter. This is the model that, a priori, will be in charge of covering the gap left by the famous Piaggio tricycle within the segment where it was included.
As has happened in the past on other occasions, Ape will continue to give its best in other parts of the world. In fact, currently, it is the preferred vehicle for Indian taxi drivers and one of the best sellers in some Asian and African countries.
Behind us are 76 years of Italian history, of an icon and hallmark of a country. As I argued Nico Cereghini (Italian motorcycle racer and journalist) in his chronicle after hearing the news,
“The Ape will disappear in a world that is perhaps more breathable, perhaps. But much less colorful.”
