The Piaggio Group is expanding its offering in the scooter segment with its brand, Aprilia and the Italian company has said it will introduce the Aprilia SR 150 in India in August.
It will be sold at an introductory price of Rs 65,000.
The scooter segment in India is one of the largest in the world, with nearly five million units sold in 2015, and a growth of 20% in the first half of 2016 over that in the same period last year.
Given the Aprilia brand’s heritage, the SR 150 is a crossover vehicle that combines the feel of a sports bike with the ease of a scooter. Designed and engineered in Italy, the scooter will be manufactured at Piaggio’s India plant in Baramati, Maharashtra.
“After the success of the Ape and the positioning of the Vespa in the premium segment of the Indian market, we are further strengthening our offering in the subcontinent with the entry of Aprilia’s SR 150 scooter,” said Piaggio Group Chairman and CEO, Roberto Colaninno. “This vehicle is an excellent expression of the Noale manufacturer’s sport expertise and offers technology and style superior to those of its direct competitors in the segment,” he said.
Stefano Pelle, Managing Director and CEO, Piaggio Vehicles Private Limited (PVPL), added, “We have received a favourable response to all our launches in the country and with the launch of the Aprilia SR 150, we aim to increase our footprint across the geo. The design aesthetics of the SR 150 reflect the sporty character of the Aprilia brand with a light weight engine which creates a new category in India’s the scooter segment.”
The Aprilia SR 150 will be characterized by 14" wheels with five spokes that are similar to the Aprilia racing bikes which are seen on the Moto GP championship circuits. It will have a single cylinder 150cc, 4-stroke engine. With it, Piaggio will reach out to the urban youth who are not only dynamic but also embrace international culture and are upwardly mobile.
The bookings for the Aprilia SR 150 will commence shortly and will be available through Piaggio Group’s distributor network across the country.
PVPL, a 100% subsidiary of Piaggio Group, manufactures of scooters and motorcycles as well as three and four wheeled commercial vehicles with a portfolio of brands that includes Piaggio, Vespa, Aprilia, Moto Guzzi and Apé.
PVPL commenced its India operations in 1999, with the launch of the three-wheeler brand Apé.
The Vespa scooter was introduced in India in April 2012. The Company has a state-of-the-art plant in Baramati, Maharashtra, India where it manufactures the iconic Vespa alongside its wide range of 3 and 4 wheeled commercial vehicles.