How an Italian scooter-maker plans to RULE India

Piaggio is all set to take on its rivals as it starts production in Baramati, Maharashtra

Piaggio plans to launch more scooters in the Indian market. The Italian automaker launched the Vespa as a brand building tool. The company calls it a lifestyle product and thus the pricing has been done at a slight premium. So what all does Piaggio have to offer?

To start with, Piaggio will launch another scooter later this year. The Fly scooter is famous in Europe and is being brought to India by this Diwali.

It will be manufactured at Baramati with heavy localisation, rivaling the Suzuki Swish and Access, Mahindra Rodeo and Duro. The Baramati plant has an annual capacity to produce 1.5 lakh scooters.

The Piaggio Fly uses the same engine which does duty on the Vespa LX125. However the Fly 125cc will have slightly different hardware, thereby producing lesser power and torque.

The Fly 125 is expected to product 10 BHP of power and 10 Nm of torque. It will boast of very good fuel efficiency and is expected to be priced around Rs 50,000.

Piaggio is indeed looking at boosting sales in the two-wheeler segment.

Currently Honda enjoys a massive market share of close to 45 per cent in the scooter segment. Piaggio, the inventors of the scooters are all set to change that. The company also plans to bring in a 200cc Aprilia bike to rival the KTM Duke 200 in the coming years.

Exciting times indeed.