(Is the Chetak back from the grave? Only time will tell!)
In a very curt sounding interview between the Indian site “Money Control” and LML’s Vice President, RK Srivastava, it was revealed that LML plans to resume scooter production in Q1 2007. Could mean the resurrection of the Chetak and the Stella?!
And, how about the Vespa? Are they going to work with Piaggio to reinstate the Vespa P series? Let’s see what they had to say:
Q: There was some talk that you might be doing some kind of a deal with Piaggio. Is that on or is that speculation?
A: We have nothing to do with Piaggio.Q: You will go ahead without a partner?
A: Yes.
Ouch! I don’t know if something is lost in the context, but “We have nothing to do with Piaggio.” doesn’t sound very friendly. Still all this angst SEVEN years after the break-up?
Of course there are many details that need to be worked out. If they manage to get their $#!+ together by March, we might see the return of the manual 2-stroke again. Woot!
(I’m not going to hold my breath)
Fact: Did you know that LML stands for Lohia Machines Private Limited and was incorporated in 1978 to make synthetic yarn? Find out more at Wikipedia!
28. December 2006 at 9:50 pm
LML and Bajaj are separate companies. Bajaj was started in 1945, decades before LML. I hope the Stella is revived, that would be fantastic. I’d also love to see it get a 200cc engine, but that’s just me dreaming.
29. December 2006 at 9:22 am
ooOOOo… Got me. Because Bajaj and LML both stopped production of the P inspired scooter around the same time, I fooled myself into thinking they were manufactured by the same plant.
So, “nix” on the Bajaj and “eh, who knows” on the Genuine Stella.
I wish I had a few million bucks to buy Bajaj’s tooling equipment… We could open our own P manufacturing right here in Texas!
30. December 2006 at 12:53 am
Shame on you, Steve, for exploiting all that cheap Texan labor!
30. December 2006 at 1:00 am
Nothin’ cheap about Steve’s Op!!! Maximo Kudoos for just bein’!!
7. January 2007 at 6:39 am
I am moving to Austin and I need a job.
7. January 2007 at 4:20 pm
Woot! I have my first employee!