Piaggio plans Vespa’s third entry into India soon

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Eight years after they went off Indian roads following Piaggio’s break-up with joint venture partner LML, Vespa scooters are set to return to the domestic market, along with Aprilia motorcycles.

“We are certainly looking at entering the domestic scooter and motorcycle market. We will announce our plans in a few months,” Piaggio Vehicles Pvt Ltd managing director Ravi Chopra told FE.

This will be the third time that the 60-year-old Italian brand enters the Indian market. Synonymous with geared scooters around the world, Vespa was first introduced in India in 1960 in technical collaboration with Bajaj Auto.

The tie-up expired in 1971. Piaggio then joined with Kanpur-based LML to reintroduce the Vespa brand in 1983. In 1999, LML promoters Deepak Singhania and family bought over Piaggio’s 26% stake in the joint venture after a protracted dispute over control.

This time, however, both the Vespa and Aprilia brands will be introduced by the Milan-based group’s wholly owned subsidiary Piaggio Vehicles Pvt Ltd from a new two-wheeler plant. Vespa is likely to be launched in the 125-250cc range. Aprilia, however, may be introduced in smaller displacements. In Italy and Europe, Aprilia sells in the 50-650cc range. Piaggio acquired Aprilia in 2004.