Piaggio Brands Still Growing Piaggio Brands Defy Economic Plunge. Central Coast Express
DEFYING the doom and
gloom merchants, Piaggio brands continue to lead the growth in scooter sales. Comprising the Piaggio, Vespa and Gilera brands, Piaggio appears to be bucking a number of consumer trends in the challenging economic environment. Piaggio increased sales by more than 44 per cent over the previous year in a market that increased by 7.6 per cent. This provided Piaggio with an increase in market share from 17.4 to 23.4 per cent. With fuel prices dipping below a dollar many expected scooter sales would slow. But that has not been the case according to Piaggio'sAustralian brand manager Simon Gloyne. "We understand why people might think that, but factors driving scooter growth remain," he said. "An increase in apartment living, worsening traffic congestion, unreliable public transport, sky-rocketing parking costs and concern for the environment have been strong influences. "Petrol prices may have come down but our owners still remain interested in reducing consumption and improving their quality of life. It's never been more fun to do the right thing," he said.
published 29/01/2009 |