During the ceremony, Roberto Colaninno said: “Today is a very important event for our Group. It is based on the success achieved by Piaggio Vietnam since 2009 and lays the foundation for a new phase in our expansion strategy in South East Asia. The results reported by the Piaggio Group last year validate our global growth strategies, which identify Asia as the key to Group growth in the next few years, by virtue of the rapid urbanisation of the main Asian nations and rising consumer purchasing power.”
The new engine factory – where production operations will begin in April – will include, in addition to the scooter engine assembly lines, aluminium machining equipment and test benches. The new Piaggio Group plant stands next to the Piaggio Vietnam vehicle assembly plant, which handles all welding, painting and final assembly operations for the Vespa, Liberty and Fly scooters produced by the Group’s Vietnamese subsidiary. The Piaggio Vietnam industrial complex in Vinh Phuc also houses an R&D Centre for the two-wheeler sector – the first R&D unit set up by the Piaggio Group in Asia – which operates synergetically with the Group headquarters in Pontedera, focusing on the vehicle and engine ranges produced for the Asian and Pacific markets.