Piaggio India unveiled the Aprilia RS 457 at IBW 2023 with a price tag of approximately Rs 4 lakh.
In a strategic move, the India unit of Piaggio, Europe’s leading two-wheeler manufacturer, is gearing up to sharpen its focus on Aprilia motorcycles while contemplating the discontinuation of Vespa scooters by 2030.
This shift comes amidst the company's efforts to align with evolving market trends and regulatory requirements.
The Italian automaker, known for its premium offerings, is set to commence deliveries of the RS Aprilia 450 middleweight motorcycles in the upcoming fiscal year.
However, industry sources suggest a re-evaluation of Piaggio's long-term strategy concerning Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) scooters. particularly the iconic Vespa lineup.
A detailed questionnaire sent to Piaggio India spokesperson on its two-wheeler plans couldn't elicit any response despite multiple attempts made by Moneycontrol.com.
Why Vespamight be discontinued
Industry observers said that the declining appeal of Vespa scooters in recent years can be attributed to various factors, including their premium pricing, limited market presence, and the growing preference for electric scooters amidst rising fuel costs. The impact of COVID-19 further exacerbated sales challenges, leading to a significant drop in Vespa numbers, post-pandemic.
“The premium electric scooter has redefined what is 'cool'. It is not just about the style quotient but also being tech-savvy and being seen as 'responsible' and 'green'. The hot buttons for the psychographic that used to be attracted to a Vespa have evolved, whereas Vespa has not. That is the fundamental reason why the Vespa is not that aspirational any more," stated Avik Chattopadhyay, founder of brand consultancy firm, Expereal.
Introduced in the Indian market in 2012, the Vespa ICE scooter, equipped with a 125cc engine, carved out a niche for itself as a premium scooter, priced in the range of Rs 1.25-1.50 lakh (ex-showroom).
Despite its initial success, Piaggio, according to sources, is reassessing the feasibility of continuing Vespa sales beyond 2030, especially in light of impending BS-VII emission norms.
Notably, many developed countries have pledged to phase out fossil fuel burning engines beginning 2030, which includes some of Piaggio’s key markets globally.
India has set an electric vehicle (EV) sales target of 30 percent by 2030. Still, it will be home to an overwhelmingly large number of traditional ICE-powered vehicles.
In the two-wheeler segment, compared to scooters, motorcycles are expected to remain ICE-powered for an extended period of time.
Aprilia, which specialises in premium scooters and sports bikes and was taken over by Piaggio globally, was launched in the Indian market in 2016. Piaggio India unveiled the Aprilia RS 457 at the India Bike Week (IBW) 2023, poised to compete with leading models such as the KTM RC 390, TVS Apache RR 310, and Yamaha R3, with a price tag of approximately Rs 4.10 lakh (ex-showroom).
'Relaunch possible'
“Piaggio India may phase out the model in the next 3-4 years when electric two-wheeler's share becomes dominant in the overall two-wheeler market. There, however, remains a possibility that the Vespa brand may be relaunched in a completely new electrified avatar ," said a person aware of the company’s deliberations.
The Vespa Elettrica electric scooter, which was showcased at the Auto Expo 2020, however, is unlikely to be launched in India, say sources. They say the Italian brand is working on a made-in-India electric scooter.
In the interim, the company is working on strategies to roll out a 450cc Aprilia sports motorcycle, which will be built only in India and Italy for global markets," said a source requesting anonymity.
Piaggio India's response
In a statement on 14th March, Piaggio India spokesperson said, "Piaggio Vehicles Pvt Ltd. emphatically denies the information mentioned in this article regarding the discontinuation of Vespa scooters in India. Piaggio remains committed to the Indian market and continues to invest in offering a strong portfolio of premium two-wheelers under Aprilia and Vespa brands. Vespa remains a core element of our product portfolio in India, and we are committed to its continued success."
FAQs
Piaggio India unveiled the Aprilia RS 457 at IBW 2023 with a price tag of approximately Rs 4 lakh. In a strategic move, the India unit of Piaggio, Europe's leading two-wheeler manufacturer, is gearing up to sharpen its focus on Aprilia motorcycles while contemplating the discontinuation of Vespa scooters by 2030.
Why is the Vespa discontinued? ›
The discontinuation comes from the fact the contract between Piaggio and Armani was terminated recently. While Piaggio wasn't exactly looking for volumes with the Vespa 946 EA, the model found fewer takers than expected.
Are Vespa and Aprilia the same company? ›
Piaggio & C. SpA (Piaggio [ˈpjaddʒo]) is an Italian motor vehicle manufacturer, which produces a range of two-wheeled motor vehicles and compact commercial vehicles under four brands: Piaggio, Vespa, Aprilia, Moto Guzzi and Derbi. Its corporate headquarters are located in Pontedera, Italy.
Are Piaggio scooters made in China? ›
A Global Brand with Humble Italian Roots
Piaggio & C owns the Piaggio Foshan Motorcycle Co. Ltd plant in Foshan City China, which plays a part in their production operations, but the majority of their production for scooters still takes place at their Pontedera, Italy headquarters.
Does KTM own Aprilia? ›
Who owns Aprilia? Aprilia Motorcycles has been owned by Piaggio & C since 2004. Piaggio is an Italian motor vehicle manufacturer, which also owns Vespa, Moto Guzzi, Derbi, Gilera, and more.
Are Vespas overpriced? ›
For the right rider, they most definitely are. Nothing makes a bigger fashion statement than a Vespa, but everyone knows that style comes at a pretty steep cost. Even entry-level models will cost nearly double the price of a similarly-equipped model from a different brand.
Is a Vespa worth buying? ›
Vespa Scooter are more of a luxury item than an actual scooter. They return low milage, slightly higher maintenance and low boot space , seat, footrest space. BUT: they are really high-quality in terms of parts,engine,paint-work, service,body panel gaps etc.
Which is better, Aprilia or Vespa? ›
Aprilia offers the SR 160 in 3 colours whereas the Vespa VXL 150 comes in 7 colours. Out of 15 user reviews, VXL 150 scores 3.7 whereas the Aprilia SR 160 tallies 4.0 out of 5 based on 54 user reviews.. TheAprilia SR 160 Mileage is around 35 kmpl, while the Vespa VXL 150 Mileage is around 45 kmpl.
Who owns Vespa now? ›
The Vespa has evolved from a single model motor scooter manufactured in 1946 by Piaggio & Co. S.p.A. of Pontedera, Italy to a full line of scooters and one of seven companies today owned by Piaggio.
Who is the owner of Aprilia scooter? ›
In 2004, Aprilia was acquired by Piaggio & C. SpA, to form the world's fourth largest motorcycle group with 1.5 billion Euro in sales, an annual production capacity of over 600,000 vehicles, and a presence in 50 countries.
Informally, we tend to expect the most of the bikes we sell to make it 50,000 miles. After that, we think they should keep going, but at that point a better question to ask is: are you getting the value out of it that you would like to see?
What scooters are made in USA? ›
Categorized list of e-scooter developers in USA
- Razor E90.
- Hover-1 Eagle.
- Swagtron-5.
- Glion Dolly.
- Ninebot ES2.
- Mi e-scooter pro.
- Micro Merlin.
- Mercane Widewheel Pro - 2020.
For what it is, it performs well with responsive brakes, sharp acceleration at low speeds, and a comfy seat. As far as low-capacity electric scooters go, I don't think any of its rivals can compete with the Italian styling either.
What does Aprilia mean in Italian? ›
From April, a month name.
Does Aprilia use Rotax engines? ›
But Rotax developed a 798 cc parallel twin engine with and for BMW, which was built from 2006 to 2020. Brands using Rotax engines include: Aprilia Pegaso, Aprilia RSV Mille, Aprilia RSV 1000 R, Aprilia Tuono the Falco and Futura. ATK 250, 350, 406, 560, 604, 605.
Why is KTM moving to China? ›
The company has decided to move its production units to China as a step to cut down its production costs. A major association has formed between KTM and a notable Chinese motorcycle brand, CFMoto, to carry on with the production of KTM bikes.
Are Vespa scooters still being made? ›
Vespas are still manufactured today in Pontedera, near Tuscany, Italy. It's where the scooter has been manufactured since its inception after World War II in 1946 by a company that originally manufactured locomotives. However, the Vespa's popularity required more plants to keep up with its worldwide demand.
Why is a Vespa too costly? ›
A Vespa Scooter is often perceived as being expensive due to several factors. Firstly, Vespa is a renowned and iconic brand that has a long history of producing high-quality scooters. This reputation, along with their stylish and timeless designs, contributes to the premium price tag.
What is the life expectancy of a Vespa? ›
It depends mostly on one thing. Maintenance. A properly maintained Vespa should last a long time, well beyond 38,000 miles.
Do Vespas lose value? ›
Do Vespa hold their value? Vespa scooters retain their value at a rate of 72.1 percent of their purchase price, In fact, in the 2-year-old scooter models list there are Vespa models, all holding strong with over 80 percent value retention. Is Vespa good for long rides?
