Piaggio Bring Back Vespa on Indian Road

This Thursday saw the rebirth of Piaggio in India with Vespa LX-125. Piaggio, the Italian global two-wheeler manufacturer, launched its Vespa scooter, model LX-125. The Vespa LX-125 has been priced at Rs. 66000(ex-showroom Mumbai) and will be available initially in 35 cities across India. Piaggio is targeting dynamic young consumers and wants to create a premium scooter segment in India with Vespa LX-125.

It is a sort of second innings for Piaggio’s Vespa in India. It had an initial collaboration with Bajaj Auto in 1960s and then with LML which ended in 1999.

Piaggio will manufacture Vespa LX-125 at its Baramati plant in Maharashtra which has an initial capacity of 150000 units per year. The company plans to sell 3 lakh of its Vespa scooters by 2013. The scooter will be sold through a network of 50 dealers spread across 35 cities which would soon be doubled to 100 dealers across 70 cities.

Piaggio Vespa has got an all new 125 cc engine which is specially created for the Indian market. It is expected to deliver a fuel efficiency of 60 km per litre which is approx 100 percent more efficient than the European Vespa engine. Vespa LX-125 would be available in six different colors with self and kick start variants.

The other specifications of Vespa LX-125 include:

Engine: air cooled, single cylinder, 3 valve and 4 stroke.
Power: 10.6 ps @ 7500 rpm (maximum)
Torque: 10.6 ps @6000 rpm (maximum)
Battery – 12V, 5Ah low maintenance
Headlamp – multi focal with 35 W halogen
Transmission: continuous variable transmission

Suspension:
Front – single arm with coil spring and dual effect shock absorber
Rear – coil spring and dual effect shock absorber

Chassis:
Frame – monocoque steel high rigidity structure
Dimension – 1770x690x1140 mm
Seat height – 770 mm
Tyre size – 90/100-10 53J
Fuel tank capacity – 8 litres

The company has ambitious expansion plans for the future as well. According to Ravi Chopra, Vehicles Chairman and Managing Director at Piaggio, “First want to establish Vespa but Piaggio has plans to expand two wheeler product range in India”.

So Piaggio’s Vespa LX-125 is all set to target the premium luxury Indian scooter segment. Together with its strong technology, high pricing, targeted customers and its annual sales expectation in India, Piaggio’s Vespa LX-125 is likely to develop as a niche player and is expected to create its share in the Indian scooter market in the days to come.