The Piaggio Ape is a three-wheeled light commercial vehicle produced since 1948 by Piaggio.
The Ape has been in continuous production since its inception and has been produced in a variety of different body styles in Italy and India. The name refers to the work ethic of this vehicle – "ape" in Italian means "bee".
The vehicles come in various configurations such as vans and pickups for load carrying (popular with postal administration in some countries).
The Ape is a common sight in Italy where its compact size allows it to negotiate narrow city streets and park virtually anywhere. In small southern villages, it is also often seen at the roadside where the load area is used as an impromptu market stall by farmers.