International Dealer News IDN 118 Apr/May 2014 | Page 6

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Lotus prototype
KODEWA Performance
Motorcycles, the company
licensed by Lotus to produce the
first motorcycle to officially
bear their name (the C-01), has
announced that the first
prototype of the design is now
road registered and ready for
testing.
Having been in development for

two years, the C-01 is the first
motorcycle in the world to bear
the Lotus name. The machine
features bodywork designed by
Daniel Simon, who was
responsible for the ‘Lightcycles’
in the 2010 Disney film ‘Tron:
Legacy’ and the ‘Bubbleship’
used by Tom Cruise in ‘Oblivion’.
The bike is built in titanium,

carbon fibre and aerospace
grade steel, with a 1,200cc,
75-degree V-twin engine, and
what is claimed to be a
"unique" air intake.
The C-01 will be available in a
range of liveries, and a
customisation service will also
be available, "limited only by
the imagination of the buyer".
It is said that production of the
C-01 will be limited to just 100
units.

Growth and records for Vespa and Guzzi, but
Piaggio Group sales, turnover and profits down
ITALIAN giant Piaggio has posted
reduced profits, turnover and sales for
2013, but says that its results in the twowheeler sector represent a "solid
performance in terms of product
success, market strength and
profitability".

Piaggio Chairman/CEO Roberto
Colaninno unveiled a strategic plan
that calls for the company to focus
on "premium two-wheeler
segments"

Highlights of the Group's
performance last year included record
global sales for Moto Guzzi models (up
2.4 percent with some 6,800 units - a
third consecutive year of growth) and
Vespa scooters (up 14 percent
worldwide at 188,600 units), and
"consolidation" of Piaggio's position as
Europe's market leading PTW
manufacturer, at 17.6 percent total PTW
market share overall and a 26.1 percent
share of the scooter market.
European PTW sales (EMEA) were
down -22.9 percent at 195,800 units,
with turnover down by -17.8 percent at
€
567.4m. In Italy specifically the
company sold 38,900 units (-43
percent), worth €
124.6m (-35.5
percent).
Worldwide Piaggio sold 351,600
PTW units (-13.4 percent), with turnover
of €
852.6m (-14.2 percent); of that
volume motorcycles were down 18.1
percent, scooters down -13 percent.
Inclusive of the Group's light
commercial vehicle activities, what it
describes as "significant cost

efficiencies achieved during the period",
meant Piaggio was able to sustain its
net margin for 2013 (29.5 percent
compared to 29.7 percent in 2012)
despite seeing gross profits down at
€
357.5m from €
417.9m in 2012.
Consolidated net sales for the Group
were €
1,212.5m (€
1,406.2m in 2012)
on total vehicle sales of 555,600 (PTWs
and commercial vehicles - down from
615,500 in 2012), with a negative
exchange rate effect of €
53m. Adjusted
net profit was €
18.1m, down from
€
42.1m in 2012; however, a one-times
tax adjustment from prior year filings
resulted in a net loss of €
6.5m.
In its Group Business Plan for the
financial years to 2017 Piaggio says it
"foresees a small upturn on the
European PTW market, from 1.1m units
in 2013 to 1.3m shipments by 2017.

The Primavera has replaced
the LX, Vespa's top selling
model during its record breaking year

After six consecutive years of overall
market decline the focus [for Piaggio]
will be on the premium two-wheeler
segments, in both the scooter business
(with Vespa, the Mp3 three-wheeler
range and the GT scooters) and the
motorcycle business (with Moto Guzzi
and the development of the Aprilia
sports brand). The Group will also be
aiming to penetrate new customer
segments, with the development of an
e-bike project".