Piaggio launches new passenger range, eyes exports

Piaggio Vehicles Private Limited (PVPL) has launched a new range of passenger three-wheelers, the Ape City, which have been equipped with a three-valve, one cylinder engine designed exclusively for India. Speaking exclusively to Autocar Professional, chairman and managing director, Ravi Chopra said the company hopes to acquire a 15-20 percent stake in the passenger three-wheeler market.

PVPL plans to sell about 25,000 units of the range in calendar 2013. The new range includes a CNG, LPG and petrol variants. While the CNG version coats Rs 1,24,000, ex-Maharashtra, the petrol will cost Rs 1,10,000, ex-Maharashtra.

Chopra said the market for three-wheeler passengers has been estimated at 1,50,000. With the Ape City, the company is pitching itself in a big way at the only major competitor in the market, Bajaj Auto.

According to Chopra, the 200 cc engine has high acceleration and pick-up and will offer good fuel efficicney and low emissions. In addition, from a buyer perspective, the product aims to offer buyers better earning potential as well as a hassle-free maintenance. According to Chopra, the new range will require an oil change only after 10,000 km as against its rivals who he said needed one after 5,000 km.

More importantly, PVPL plans to target several export markets with the new range, particular, the petrol offering. The company has already sent vehicles to the export markets it is targeting ahead of their dispatch to distributors there. The markets being targeted at Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, in Africa -- Egypt, Kenya and Tanzania -- as well as the countries of Latin America. The company hopes to sell 50,000 units in 18-24 months in an export market that has been estimated at worth 300,000 units.

In the making of this product, Chopra said used its existing vendor base. On the cargo vehicle front, he said the company has been able to establish itself as a dominant player. The company’s Baramati facility is rolling out 1,000 units a day up from 80 when operations began way back in 1999.

BRIAN DE SOUZA