The Ape (Bee) was produced by Piaggio in Pontedera near Pisa since 1948, but part of the production had already been moved to India over the past few years.
It will now be exclusively made for the Indian and African markets due to new, more stringent, European Union rules on emissions and safety, sources close to the industrial group said.
The Pontedera factory will be converted to produce the electric Porter lorry.
The one-of-a-kind design encapsulating the spirit of post-war Italy was created by engineer Corradino D’Ascanio and became famous by bringing mobility to recovering Italian cities after World War II.
D’Ascanio, originally a helicopter designer, is also the father of another iconic vehicle, the Ape’s two-wheel sibling, the Vespa (Wasp), based on an idea conceived by industrialist Enrico Piaggio.
ANSA
