Fiat Professional is launching the Tris, a three-wheeled electric business vehicle that carries the DNA of the iconic Piaggio Ape into contemporary e-mobility. Designed at Centro Stile in Italy, the compact commercial vehicle marks Fiat's first foray into the sustainable last-mile B2B delivery segment.
While the Piaggio Ape has been a staple of Italian streets and developing markets for decades, Tris brings a contemporary twist to the commercial vehicle category thanks to a colorful and quirky design upgrade. The three-wheeler maintains the maneuverability that made the Ape so practical, mostly thanks to its compact size (it’s 3.17 meters long and weighs only 1,025 kg) and the tight 3.05-meter turning radius.
The doorless cabin prioritizes driver comfort with easy entry and exit, and modern amenities including a 5.7-inch digital cluster, USB-C charging, and a 12V socket. Like the old Ape, the Tris is steered with handlebars instead of a wheel but - of course - has no clutch or gears.
The electric powertrain consists of a 48-volt motor delivering 9 kW of peak power and 45 Nm of torque, enabling a top speed of 45 km/h. The 6.9 kWh lithium battery – the same technology used in the Fiat Topolino – provides a homologated range of 90 km on the WMTC cycle. The charging goes from 0 to 80% in 3.5 hours using a standard 220V domestic socket, with full charge achieved in 4 hours and 40 minutes.
Fiat is positioning Tris specifically for the Africa and Middle East markets (MEA), where urban populations are growing by 3% annually and the demand for affordable last-mile delivery solutions is strong. Manufacturing will take place in Morocco.
The target audience includes small businesses, independent workers, and entrepreneurs who need an affordable, zero-emissions vehicle for urban logistics, delivery services, and mobile businesses. Fiat plans to offer leasing and lease-to-own options to make the vehicle accessible to a broader range of users.
Olivier Francois, Fiat CEO, hinted that while the initial launch focuses on MEA markets, Europe could be next, suggesting the company sees broader potential for the electric Ape.