Piaggio to Bring Down Bike Prices; Plans to Assemble Locally

The Italian two-wheeler manufacturer, Piaggio is planning to utilise its local assembly plant to serve its buyers with higher capacity bikes. At a recent motorcycle show, Piaggio India CEO, Stefano Pelle and two-wheeler executive VP, Sanjeev Goyle revealed that the company is working hard towards expanding its high-end bike business that includes renown brands like Aprilia and Moto Guzzi. Piaggio further plans to expand its dealership network, which will be based on Italian Motoplex theme giving the benefit of selling multiple brands under a single retail space. The company believes it to be a profitable strategy. However, the concept will come to India without the Motoplex name.

The Baramati plant of the company situated at Maharashtra is chosen for the CKD (Completely Knocked Down) task, which currently runs with a capacity of 1,50,000 units per year. The CKD assembly will certainly bring down the prices and would give company the edge required to affirm its presence. The plant has not been fully utilised witnessing the company’s philosophy of believing in quality, not in numbers. At the event, the manufacturer flaunted its most popular models to impress the audience. These included Moto Guzzi California cruiser and V7 based cafe racers. The stage was also highlighted by the presence of Aprilia’s flagship model, the RSV4. The company will also consider its MP3 three-wheeler and upcoming scooter, Primavera, which will take another 12 to 16 months to launch in the country. The assembly of high-end bikes in the country and the arrival of better scooters may prove game-changing factors for the Italian maker.