Auto Expo 2014: Piaggio Group flexes muscle with tech, products and brands

The Piaggio Group and its Indian subsidiary Piaggio Vehicles Pvt Ltd (PVPL) have made the Auto Expo a platform to showcase their technological and design capability across superbikes, motorcycles, scooters and commercial vehicles.

In the scooter market, PVPL is now set to expand its operations with more offerings from the Vespa stable. The Vespa S, powered by the existing 125cc engine in the LX125 and VX125 models, will be the next model to be launched, most probably later this month. The company has also displayed the stylish Vespa 946, launched last year in Europe. There is also the large-wheeled Liberty scooter whose global sales to date are approaching one million units. Equipped with a 125cc 3V engine and large high wheels, it is claimed to offer very good fuel efficiency and superior riding comfort in all road conditions.

On the motorcycle front, the Piaggio Group has brought out its well-known Moto Guzzi and Aprilia brands at the Expo. Moto Guzzi’s flagship California 1400 Touring luxury bike is there as also the awesome race-winning Aprilia RSV4 R ABS. The RSV4 has won five Superbike world championship titles in the last four seasons.

Of much interest is the Piaggio Group’s NT3 light four-wheeler prototype. Four wheels, three seats with the driver placed in a forward central seat, the NT3 concept is powered by a 230cc or 350cc petrol engine, and has also been developed in a 350cc hybrid version. All the models offer urban-friendly features with a special focus on eco-sustainability: 80kph, up to 33km per litre and up to 70g CO2/km.

On the CV front, Piaggio Vehicles plans to launch the Porter 1000 in the 1-tonne payload small commercial vehicle segment in India, available in BS III and BS IV variants. The Porter compact CV range is sold in over 14 countries and is the first international brand in the compact truck segment in India. Within a short span of its launch, PVPL claims the Porter 600 has garnered a market share of around 25 percent in the 0.5-tonne CV segment.