The much awaited launch of the Piaggio Vespa has taken place with a price of Rs 66,661, ex-Maharashtra. ()
Piaggio has dropped the LX125 tag for this scooter in India and it will be called just Vespa.
The scooter has a 10PS 125cc engine specially developed for India by Piaggio with a variomatic transmission, drum brakes and trailing link front suspension.
Piaggio intends to have just one version of the scooter on sale.
The company is working towards a 50-dealer network across 35 major Indian cities which will be exclusively dedicated to the brand.
The scooter is being manufactured at Piaggio's new two-wheeler plant at Baramati, the same place near Pune where it also manufactures its commercial three- and four-wheelers.
Originally launched in 1946, the Vespa, Piaggio officials say, is a best seller in Europe and has appeared in more than 200 Hollywood movies.
Vespa till date is the only scooter in the world to use a single piece monocoque chassis.
The company has brands like Aprilia, Derbi, Gilera, Moto Guzzi and Scarabeo.
The Vespa brand was first sold in India in the 60s till 80s through a collaboration with Bajaj Auto.
Later on Piaggio had a partnership with LML that ended in 1999.
