Piaggio expects to launch latest Vespa model in 4th quarter

Italian automaker Piaggio today said the latest model of its iconic scooter brand Vespa is under evaluation for road-worthiness and may be made available in India from the last quarter of current fiscal.

Vespa 946, which made its debut in the European markets in early June, is currently under the evaluation of Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI).

Ravi Chopra, Chairman and Managing Director, Piaggio Vehicles India said the company may launch another product in the two-wheeler segment by the end of this year.

"In India, we will have to go through the process of homologation. Currently, it (Vespa 946) is under homologation under ARAI and the process will take 3-4 months.

Hopefully, it will be available from the fourth quarter of 2014. Vespa 946 is the ambassador of Vespa," Chopra told reporters here.

Homologation is the process of certifying whether a particular vehicle is roadworthy and matches certain specified criteria laid down by the government for all vehicles made or imported into that country.

In India, this clearance is given by the Pune-based ARAI or the Vehicle Research and Development Establishment (VRDE), Ahmednagar.

Essentially, the tests ensure that the vehicle matches requirements of the domestic market in terms of emission, safety and road-worthiness as per the Central Motor Vehicle Rules.

Since May, the firm has created a platform on its official website to place orders for Vespa 946.

Chopra, however, did not disclose the price of the newest scooter from the company's stable and said it will be announced in due course of time.

People have been visiting the Vespa website and seeking information about the vehicle and delivery aspects. All those will be answered in a few months, he added.

Meanwhile, Piaggio today launched its Vespa VX model in Hyderabad market. The company has sold 52,000 Vespa two-wheelers in the past 13 months.