Piaggio rolls out ape TRUK

Kochi, May 31 (UNI) Piaggio Vehicles Private Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Piaggio&C Spa of Italy, has rolled out Ape TRUK, claimed to be India's only international pick-up in the four-wheeler category.

Addressing a gathering after the launch last night, Chairman and Managing Director Ravi Chopra said the vehicle would able to fill the gap in the lower end of the LCV category and the larger three-wheelers.

'' With increasing emphasis on heavy multi-axle commercial vehicles for inter-city transportation, the focus has shifted to smaller cargo vehicles for efficient intra-city movement of essential goods,'' Mr Chopra said.

The state-of-the-art vehicle, priced between Rs 2.15 lakh and Rs 2.20 lakh with Italian styling and contemporary design combines features like comfortable car-like interiors, excellent stability, highest payload, three-side openable panels, highest ground clearance, all-terrain capability and outstanding fuel efficiency.

Mr Chopra said the company had internationally advanced technological know-how with factories in Italy, Spain, China and India.

He said PVPL had more than five lakh customers and last year sold 1.4 lakh vehicles holding a near monopoly in the LCV category below one tonne.

The company enjoys 48 per cent share in the three-wheeler diesel category in the country and is the sourcing hub for markets in Africa, Latin America and Asia.

UNI