Piaggio Vehicles (PVPL), a 100% subsidiary of Italian-based Piaggio & Co, plans to launch two new gearless scooters from the Vespa range this year. It plans to get a new variant of Vespa in two-three months and a new sporty version by end of the calender year.
Confirming the plans, Ravi Chopra, chairman and managing director, PVPL, told FE, ?We desire to expand the Vespa range in the country with focus to remain on the premium segment.? He added that the company plans to focus on the 125 cc segment for now but in future would look at higher displacement products as well.
Currently, Piaggio sells LX 125 cc Vespa in India. Since its launch in April last year till January 2013, Vespa has managed to gather sales of 29,646 units. It is sold at a starting ex-showroom Mumbai price of R62,315.
Overall market for the gearless scooters between 90 cc to 125 cc stood at 22 lakh units for the period April-January 2012-13, a growth of 23%, according to the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers.
In the light commercial vehicle (LCV) segment, Piaggio plans to launch a one-tonne and 0.5 tonne four-wheeler LCV in the next two-three months. ?These new four-wheeler LCVs would replace the existing products that we have in the portfolio,? said Chopra. Piaggio sells the Ape Truk Plus and Ape mini in this segment.
On Tuesday, Piaggio launched the Ape city, a three-wheeler passenger carrier in LPG, CNG and petrol variants at a starting price of R1.10 lakh (ex-showroom Maharashtra). Chopra said Asia?s contribution is seen at 30-40% by 2014.
