Mr. Roberto Colaninno, Chairman, Piaggio Group, and Mr. Ravi Chopra, Chairman & Managing Director, Piaggio Vehicles Pvt. Ltd. (PVPL), the Indian subsidiary of the Italian two & three-wheeler major, presented two “Made in India” Ape Calessino three-wheelers to His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI at the Vatican recently to mark the 60th anniversary of the production start-up of Piaggio’s Ape. The two vehicles have been especially customised for His Holy Father.
Piaggio Group’s Indian subsidiary has now emerged as the market leader in the three-wheeler segment in the domestic market. Piaggio already has more than six lakh satisfied Ape customers in India today. The vehicles are produced at the manufacturing facilities in Italy and India (Baramati, near Pune). The Ape three-wheeler now enjoys widespread popularity in Europe too.
Mr. Chopra apprised His Holiness of the activities of PVPL and its contribution not only in providing employment opportunities to a few thousand people but also offering social assistance to the poor and needy.
Piaggio invented the three-wheeler in 1948. This is the 60th anniversary of the production start-up of the legendary brand Ape – a light transportation vehicle (three-wheeled) historically associated with Italy’s economic growth.
