Piaggio plans 1000cc Porter by Diwali, launches Xtra Dlx passenger carrier

Piaggio Vehicles Pvt Ltd (PVPL), which manufactures a range of three- and four-wheelers, is planning to launch a 1000cc Porter, its four-wheeler brand by October this year.

Top sources said the Porter, currently available with a 600cc engine, has a 24 percent share in a market in which it competes with offerings from Force Motors, Tata Motors and Mahindra & Mahindra. The company has conducted a seeding of 300 vehicles in various parts of the country, and it has been received well, sources said.

Meanwhile, PVPL has launched a new Ape three-wheeler for the passenger segment, the Ape Xtra DLX. According to Hardip Singh Goindi, executive vice-president, CV business, PVPL,  the vehicle has been given a complete revamp which includes new paint treatment, new body design, instrument cluster headlamps, new handlebar switch and boot chassis. Goindi said the vehicle which will cost about Rs 175,000 (ex-showroom), offers a fuel efficiency of 36-38km per litre. At hand to oversee the launch was Stefano Pelle, CEO, Piaggio India.

OVPL has a 32 percent share in the three-wheeler segment but broken up for passenger and cargo has individual market shares of 29 percent and 57 percent respectively in their individual segments. PVPL has a strong presence in the semi-urban part of the market as compared to the city category, top sources said.

The city variant of the Ape three-wheeler segment has LPG and CNG versions and there are plans to launch similar versions of the Xtra Dlx.

As regards the quadricycle, Goindi said the company is looking at the segment, and studying the likely norms that will apply, but clearly a road-worthy vehicle is some years away. The Centre has approved the quadricycle for commercial use and only Bajaj Auto has an offering – the RE 60 – in this segment right now.

On other fronts, PVPL exports its Ape City to several countries including Sri Lanka, Egypt and Nigeria, to mention but a few. The Xtra Dlx will also head overseas, sources said, but aftersales are stabilised in the Indian market.