It was  Bajaj auto limited (M/s Bachraj Trading Corporation Private Limited) which introduced  these autorickshaws in india 1959, it was inspired  from piaggio's  ape  c  model  which was  itself  based  on  the  design of vespa  two wheeler .the  bajaj  produced  these under piaggio license.

Ape c model

vespa

I guess   from design  it  reflects  the evolution journey.