Piaggio – A World-class Trademark

Distinguished attendants included Mr Hoang Trung Hai, Deputy Prime Minister of Vietnam, Mr Trinh Dinh Dung, Secretary of Vinh Phuc Party Committee, Mr Nguyen Ngoc Phi, Chairman of Vinh Phuc People’s Committee, and many high-ranking officials of the Vietnamese Government and Vinh Phuc province. Mr Andrea Perugini, Italian Ambassador to Vietnam, and Mr Roberto Colaninno, Chairman of Italy-based Piaggio SpA, were also present at the opening ceremony.

 

Delivering his opening speech, Mr Roberto Colaninno said: “After establishing a presence in India and China, with the marketing start-up of Vespa scooters produced in Vietnam Piaggio now completes its strategic investment plan in Asia, taking a new step of the greatest importance towards the globalisation of its production operations. We take great pride in the fact that with this initiative, undertaken in an exceptionally short space of time thanks to effective cooperation between the Italian and Vietnamese Governments and between Piaggio and the national and local authorities, our Group has created the most important Italian investment in Vietnam, an extraordinarily young and rapidly expanding country.”

 

Produced in 125 and 150cc versions, the Vespa LX is constructed entirely in the Piaggio Group’s new factory in Vietnam, which handles all welding, painting, final assembly, testing and quality control processes. By the end of 2009, the Vietnamese factory will have more than 250 employees working in a 4-hectare factory (out of 8 ha overall campus). Arguably, the plant was built and equipped in a record time, less than two years, with an overall investment by the Piaggio Group until production start-up of more than US$30 million. When fully operational, the facility will have an annual production capacity of 100,000 vehicles; in the future, this capacity may be doubled. In 2009, Piaggio Vietnam will manufacture some 15,000 scooters.

 

In the Piaggio Group’s development strategy, Piaggio Vietnam is the most important progress toward the globalisation of its production operations. With the latest model produced in Vietnam, Piaggio wants to affirm that its Vespa trademark is the icon of renovation, quality, technology and design. Mr Costantino Sambuy, Chief Executive Officer of Piaggio Vietnam Ltd., said: “Once stably and effectively operational, the factory will be scaled up its production area to its licensed campus. In the coming years, the Group will increase its investment to cover its production area to 135,000 square metres. Piaggio Vietnam Ltd. is the most important Italian investment in Vietnam and plays a key strategic role for the Piaggio Group in geographical terms - the key for Piaggio to conquer ASEAN and Asia markets.

 

Made-in-Vietnam Vespa LX model keeps the typical features of outstanding performances, fashionable design, safety, reliability, optimal capacity and easy manoeuvre that create the name of the wasp-shaped scooter. The round headlight is designed similar to the history-making Vespa models. The chrome-plated mirrors make the Vespa LX powerful and attractive. The dark-coloured dashboard is contrast to speedometer, fuel metre, electronic clock, turning and headlamp indictors are the most clearly displayed. Indicators with clear lens and larger sizes will give clearer views to other traffic users when you turn.

 

Technically, Vespa LX 125 2009 is equipped with front dual-journey hydraulic shock absorbers and rear single-journey hydraulic shock absorber to create a most pleasant position for people on the vehicle.

 

The Vespa LX body is made from pressed steel. The body cover of made-in-Vietnam Vespa LX 2009 is measured 0.9 mm thick and the bodywork is measured 1.5 mm thick - the standards applied to automobiles. Special production technologies have created a distinguished calibre of Vespa LX scooters. Technological advantages generate safety, firmness and balance of aerodynamics for riders.

 

The Vespa LX 2009 introduced in June 2009 is equipped 125cc four-stroke L.E.AD.E.R. engine that meet EURO 3 emission standards. The vehicle easily reaches its maximum speed of 91 km an hour or easily moves on roads of thickly populated cities. The 150cc Vespa LX 2009 version will come in August 2009. All generations of engines for Vespa LX or other models in the Vespa family are the very commitment of Piaggio Group in supply more quality products with improvements in productivity, safety and environment friendliness.

 

The scooter is applied five-layer painting technology, which meets automobile standards. On the opening ceremony, Vespa LX 2009 was introduced in four colours: white, black, blue and strawberry colour. The producer expects to introduce two new colours, namely darkish white and greenish yellow, in September 2009.

 

To suit Vietnamese riders, the saddles are lowered by 11 mm to 774 mm from 785 mm height of imported models.

 

Remarkably, Piaggio Vietnam can create a trend of playing Vespa LX in Vietnam as the retail price of Vespa LX 125cc is only over VND61 million (or US$ 3,450). The price rate is considered reasonable for a world-class scooter and for incomes of Vietnamese people.