Development

The collaboration project between Piaggio and Daihatsu involved in the creation of a joint-venture with a capital of thirty billion Lire of which 51% will be in the hands of Piaggio and 49% will go to the Japanese Daihatsu. The minivans will be built in Piaggio 's Pontedera factories and the expected investment is approximately 150 billion Lire, of which 65 will be borne by the joint venture. According to the indications illustrated in 1990, by the Pontedera assembly lines, 35.000 vehicles are expected to come out per year for a total turnover of 350 billion per year. Twenty thousand will be sold in Europe and North Africa by Piaggio while the other 15 thousand will be marketed directly by Daihatsu in the UK and ASEAN Market. The new small commercial vehicle, called Porter for the European market that would allow the Italian manufacturer to offer a larger and more capable alternative to the classic Piaggio Ape.^[1]

Debut

1993 Piaggio Porter Van

The definitive model went into production in Pontedera in September 1992 and was marketed on the European market in the spring of the following year (both as Piaggio Porter and as Daihatsu Hijet on some Asian and UK market).^[2] Much of the mechanics components were produced by Daihatsu in its factories in Japan and assembled in Italy by Piaggio. The Porter was developed starting from the japanese keivan Daihatsu Hijet S80, using the same frame and the same sheet metal but the front section has been redesigned and strengthened using reinforced steels to withstand crash tests for European homologations. The interior is also totally new. ^[3]

The initial three versions were: a panel van for the transport of goods, a glazed van with 4 seats for the transport of people and pick-ups, all equipped with a three-cylinder petrol engine of 1000 cm³ produced by Daihatsu. An additional version is the ambulance version intended above all for Italian villages with access difficulties. ^[4]

In 1995 the versions with diesel engines were presented, equipped with a 1200 cm³ four-cylinder engine produced by Lombardini. In the same year, the petrol version was changed, now equipped with multipoint electronic injection and catalytic converter, and a fourth version, Porter Tipper, a pick-up with tipper platform, was made available in both engines.^[5]

Subsequently, a version with all-wheel drive 4x4 was also made available in the petrol engine alone. The versions equipped with an internal combustion engine are also accompanied by a version equipped with an electric motor. The 4 and 6 seater glazed van versions were also marketed between 1994 and 1997 by Innocenti as Innocenti Porter.

1998: first facelift

In 1998 it underwent a major facelift and was equipped with the new 1.300 16V Daihatsu petrol and 1400 Lombardini diesel engines. In 2002 the commercialization in the European market of the Daihatsu branded version ended following the liquidation of the joint-venture signed in 1992; production from that moment continued only under the aegis of Piaggio.

Porter electric (facelift)

In 2003, the petrol and diesel versions were joined by those fueled by LPG.

In 2002 the Maxxi version was presented, equipped with twin rear wheels so as to give the possibility of increasing the payload to 1,100 kg, also available in the 4x4 version with all-wheel drive. In addition, the range of versions and equipment is also extended with all-wheel drive (system made by Grecav).

In 2006 the Euro 4 petrol version was presented which, thanks to the integration of the Japanese Daihatsu system with a control unit produced by the Italian CF3000, manages to overcome the new stringent emission limits. At the same time, the marketing of the version with diesel engine ceases.

In 2008, the Euro 4 LPG version called "Eco Power" was launched. The versions provided are the Pick up, the Chassis, the Van and the Tipper (tipper). The updated version of the Maxxi Porter is also presented. The new outfitting of the engine of the LPG version and of the chassis of the Maxxi version will now be completely carried out within the Piaggio - Commercial Vehicles - plant in Pontedera.

Also in 2008 was presented the Maxxi version with increased capacity, which allows to reach a full load weight of 2,200 kg.^[6]

2011: Second facelift

In 2011, the Euro 5 version made its debut, with petrol, LPG, methane, diesel, as well as the electric version. In addition, the dashboard and the front grille are completely redesigned, which considerably modernize the vehicle. The diesel range consists of the new twin-cylinder engines developed by Piaggio and Ricardo: the 1.2-liter P120 is equipped with turbocharger, EGR and common rail direct injection, delivers 64 horsepower and 140 Nm of maximum torque. It is Euro 5 approved with standard particulate filter. The P100 is a naturally aspirated 1.0 available in emerging markets without a turbocharger. Both engine are produced in the Piaggio factory in Baramati in India.^[7]

In 2013, after years of absence on the market, a 4x4 version of the Porter Euro 5B + range, produced by Officine Cucini, returns.

In November 2015 the engine range has been homologated according to the Euro 6 emission standard.^[8]

In 2020 the production of the first generation ends, replaced by the new Porter NP6 made by Piaggio in Pontedera together with the Chinese manufacturer Foton.

Indian version (2013-2019)

In 2013 the Porter was launched on the Indian market produced at the Piaggio Vehicle India Private Ltd plant in Baramati. The model replaced the previous Ape Mini Truck 500. It was proposed in the 600 and 1000 versions with a maximum capacity of 600 kg and 1000 kg. The Porter 600 comes with 511 cm³ single cylinder diesel engine mated to 4-speed manual gearbox. The Porter 1000 comes with 1034 cm³ twin-cylinder four-stroke diesel engine mated to 5-speed manual gearbox.