Looks like Piaggio’s got big plans for the near future. Let’s hope they produce plenty of the new Vespa S!
HA NOI — Piaggio SpA intends to invest 15 million euro (US$20.4 million) to build a new plant in Viet Nam in 2009-10 that will construct Vespas for the local market, according to AFX News.
The investment is part of Piaggio’s international expansion, the news network quoted Piaggio Chairman Roberto Colaninno at a meeting to launch the company’s new Aprilia SL750 Shiver model in Milan earlier this week.
Colaninno said the plant will be built near HMC City and source components in Viet Nam. The company already has a sales network in the country.
Viet Nam News yesterday was unable to contact Piaggio representatives.
The Italian automaker manufactured 650,000 vehicles in 2006. However, nearly 200,000 additional units were produced by Piaggio’s joint venture in China that were not included into the company’s sales figures.
The Pisa-based firm, established in 1884 by Rinaldo Piaggio, has several popular brands in the local market, including Piaggio, Vespa, Gilera, Guzzi and Aprilia. — VNS
31. May 2007 at 8:50 am
They’re going to have a hard time competing with all the other Vespa “factories” in Vietnam. Still, I suppose they can distinguish themselves with technological innovations like “floors” and “shoes.”