Piaggio known for its small and light commercial vehicles and the Vespa scooters, also sells Aprilia superbikes in India. The Aprilia range comprises of the RSV4, Tuono V4, Dorsoduro, Mana 850 and SRV models, all of which are relatively unheard of in the mainstream market due to the lack of recognition of the Aprilia brand in India. However, the company is now planning to locally assemble its range of superbikes to make them more affordable and enhance the acceptability of the Aprilia brand in the country.
Piaggio currently brings all of the Aprilia superbikes as fully imported units which are sold at a nearly 140 percent higher price tag, courtesy of the custom duties and multiple taxes. However, the company said it is looking to bring the high performance motorcycles as completely knocked down kits in the future on the lines of other premium two-wheeler manufacturers. Currently the most affordable Aprilia is the Mana 850 ABS priced at Rs. 14.3 lakhs, whereas the flagship RSV4 Factory is priced at Rs. 25.8 lakhs (all prices ex-showroom, Pune).
Locally assembling the superbikes will easily knock-off a few lakhs from the motorcycles’ price tag. Brands like Harley-Davidson, KTM, Suzuki, Honda and even the recently launched Triumph bikes are assembled in India allowing them to price more competitively in the growing Indian two-wheeler market. The move from Aprilia could have not come at a better time, as the performance two-wheeler market is seeing exceptional growth. However, the company needs to be more visible to its customers and not just the enthusiasts if its wants to build volumes.
Aprilia currently has two showrooms in Pune and Gurgaon in the country and is in the process of opening shop in Chandigarh, Hyderabad, Mumbai and Bangalore. Piaggio is also contemplating the introduction of the Moto Guzzi brand which comprises of a range of cruisers, racers and adventure tourers such as the California 1400, V7 Racer, Griso, Stelvio and Norge models in India. The company had showcased its entire product range at the 2014 Auto Expo that was held last month in Delhi.
