Piaggio is re-entering the Indian scooter market with the Vespa LX 125, which will be produced in India itself at a rate of 150,000 units a year, from 2012. The Vespa is planned as a competitor to the Honda in India, with other popular brands being Suzuki and Mahindra. The Vespa always has that added age of vintage, Italian style, but we’ll have to wait and see if it appeals to the locals.

Piaggio already has a presence in India, selling more than 180,000 units of its trike models in 2009, produced at its Baramati plant. It hopes to cash in on India’s big motorcycle and scooter market - more than 8.4 million two wheel vehicles were purchased in India just last year, with 1.3 million being scooters.

To achieve its plans, Piaggio will invest about 30 million euros in India in 2010 and 2011. The Vespa LX 125 (Touring model in the pics) has a four-stroke, single cylinder engine with 10.7 hp. The Touring version is designed for both city riding and more adventurous surburban trips. There is also a 150 cc version, but Piaggio will do well to keep things smaller and cheaper at first in India.

Source | FasterandFaster

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