Introduced in the 1940s, the Piaggio Ape has become a symbol of Italian style and a more relaxed way of life. Bursting with charm, it's also grown popular with brands looking to attract crowds through sampling events and giveaways. But is it right for you?
Read on to find out! This guide looks at the benefits of custom Piaggio Ape hire and explains how to make it a focal point of your campaign. You’ll also see how brands have used this vehicle to excite, delight, and gain all-new customers.
Why should I hire a Piaggio Ape?
Here’s why you should consider a fully branded Piaggio Ape for your next event...
The Italian classic
This timeless vehicle endears itself to people all over the world, and in its home country of Italy, it’s as part of the landscape as a vineyard-covered hillside. Its three wheels and stylish front cab make it very different to most vehicles seen in the UK – and that makes it the perfect way to present your brand as something special.
A budget-friendly option
As one of the most affordable options around, Piaggio Ape hire is great if you're looking to dip your toes in and see if a vehicle makes sense for your brand. A one-day activation can cost as little as £4,000, which is less than both the Citroen H-Van and the VW Camper. We’ll even wrap it for you and take it to your venue at no extra cost!
A modest footprint
Around 5.5 feet high and just over 10 feet long, the Piaggio Ape is one of the smaller hire vehicles around. It can fit into many venues that larger vehicles would struggle to enter, such as stores, shopping centres and railway stations. But don’t let that fool you into thinking it’s too small to be practical; it's easy to work with and great to customise!
Wondering about venues? See the top product sampling locations to get started.
Great for quick, personal engagement
Not everyone needs a big, imposing vehicle. Depending on your campaign, you may just want to hand out gifts or food samples, then quickly move on to the next location. The Italian Piaggio Ape empowers you to do just that, so it’s quite versatile.
It can also enhance complex campaigns; some of our clients choose a large vehicle as the centrepiece, and use the Piaggio Ape for extra impact.
What do I need to consider?
Make your branded Piaggio Ape work for you with these top tips...
Transporting samples to each event
The Piaggio Ape offers plenty of room inside, but there is a limit to how many products it can hold at any one time. That’s why you may want to think about sampling and fulfilment support. With this additional service, you can have everything stored at the proper temperature and then delivered to your Piaggio Ape in time for your event.
This cuts out the logistical challenges and ensures your products will be perfectly preserved and no one leaves empty-handed.
Customising the interior
A custom Piaggio Ape can be a fantastic sampling vehicle, but only if you make good use of space. To do that, you’ll have to think about engagement and how professional staff will interact with the vehicle.
Display products in one side, store freebies in the other, and run a tea or coffee machine in the back with a discreet power unit – it all depends on your campaign’s needs.
Through our custom design and build service , we empowered Boots to promote the Anastasia cosmetics line using a highly decorative Piaggio Ape.
Elevating your live experience
With Piaggio Ape hire, you need to think about the experience as a whole and what’s happening around the vehicle itself.
Ideas include feather flags and sample bins, banners and props, or you could provide space to relax with branded deckchairs and parasols. If you’re taking your Italian Piaggio Ape indoors, you could even claim the space with removable floor graphics! These can all be customised in Raccoon's online branding store.
If you want to create a truly memorable experience, why not hold a spin-the-wheel competition and dress staff in colourful uniforms, just like MAC Cosmetics? If it becomes a photo-op, people will likely share your campaign on their social media channels.
What types of Piaggio Ape can I hire?
With two models available, you can choose the style that best fits your needs.
The classic Piaggio Ape
A genuine Italian staple, this is the model typically seen parked along cobbled European streets and rolling hillsides. Its front cab is beautifully curved, contrasting nicely with the spacious box at the rear. This vehicle is slightly larger than the Ape 50, for a bit more flexibility in terms of storage and customisation.
The Piaggio Ape 50
Introduced in the 90s, this model includes a more angular front cab, and just like the classic, it can be fully customised with everything from product shelves to chiller fridges and off-grid power. In most cases, it comes down to which style of vehicle you prefer.
How Piaggio Apes helped brands succeed
Discover how this retro vehicle increased engagement for better results...
BT
BT chose Piaggio Ape hire for its event in London’s Waterloo Station. Armed with dump buns, A-boards, floor graphics and brand ambassadors, they had everything they needed to complement this timeless vehicle, which was beautifully wrapped to stand out at the venue. They also came to us for professional photos and videography.
FUEL10K
Specialising in nutritious yet tasty meals, this company hired a branded Piaggio Ape, wrapped in two distinct colours. It was fully customised for storage and displays, creating the ideal setup for busy summer festivals. A great example of how to make a big impact with one of the smaller promotional vehicles.
Dermalogica
This skincare brand wanted to spread awareness about its ‘awaken peptide eye gel’. Wrapped in chrome and with a brightly lit roof sign, plus LED lights within the serving hatch, this Piaggio Ape was ready to grab attention! The beverage maker on the side also provided hot drinks to encourage people to stop and chat.
How much does Piaggio Ape hire cost?
If you’ve never tried our budget calculator, now’s the time to start! It provides a good estimate for vehicle hire, so you can plan your campaign effectively. To give you an idea, prices start at around £7, 273 for a 7-day activation, not including VAT. This estimate does include the external branding as well as standard logistics.
You should also visit our service pricing guide to see what we charge for extra support, like internal modifications, and sampling and fulfilment.
Try our calculator and see how little you could pay for a fully branded Piaggio Ape!
