Piaggio two-wheelers to re-enter India; Asia - Pacific operations to be strengthened

22 January 2008

Mumbai: Italian two-wheeler and light transport vehicle maker, Piaggio Group, plans to re enter the Indian two-wheeler market through its Indian arm, Piaggio Vehicles Private Limited, as a part of a broader strategy to expand its Asian operations that also focus on China, Vietnam and Japan.

It plans to focus on two-wheeler production and marketing in India, maximising technological innovation through development of eco-compatible engines delivering low emissions and reduced fuel consumption.

The Group is also studying the feasibility of launching two- , three- and four-wheel hybrid vehicles in India, by 2010.

Piaggio owns well-known brands that include Piaggio, Vespa, Gilera and Derbi and has factories in Italy, Spain, India and China.

The group's chairman and chief executive officer Roberto Colaninno illustrated the strategic guidelines for expansion of the Group's operations in Asia during a press conference held in Mumbai today.
 
He said the Piaggio Group had recently reached an agreement confirming and strengthening its cooperation with Japan's Daihatsu Motor Co., Ltd. (Daihatsu), in light transport vehicles.

The agreement covers the supply by Daihatsu of power trains (1,300cc petrol engines and transmissions) for the current Piaggio Porter range of light transport vehicles; and supply of parts, components and assemblies by Daihatsu for the new models in the Porter and Quargo ranges mounted with the new small-displacement Piaggio turbodiesel and diesel engines for manufacture by its wholly owned subsidiary Piaggio Vehicles Private Limited (PVPL).