Piaggio-Vespa brands relaunch with a new Phl distributor

MANILA, Philippines - It’s official! Grandstar Motors and Industrial Corp. (GMIC) is the new exclusive Philippine distributor of the Piaggio-Vespa brand of scooters. This confirms rumors of a new Philippine distributorship for the number one Italian scooter company that has been circulating, as the motoring media waited for the big announcement.

The launch was held at One Esplanade at the SM Mall of Asia last July 29 with a mini press conference. The event coincided with their shocker promo “Vespa 99 Night” where they handed certificates to the first 99 owners of a new LX 150 Vespa scooter priced at just P99,000.

Aiming to strengthen its market in the Southeast Asian region, Piaggio Group awarded the distributorship to Grandstar Motors, headed by its president and CEO Fabian Go, to address the rapidly growing two-wheel market in the Philippines.

“I was introduced to Vespa in 1995 and shortly after, we lost Vespa due to the Asian financial crisis. Now, I am just excited and so happy to finally be part of it and be its distributor,” Go said.

The market has seen much of the Italian retro scooters and definitely has a significant affinity to these machines that led to the appointment of the new distributorship. Grandstar Motors has been in the market for more than a decade now engaged in the importation, assembly, distribution and retailing of motorcycle products from China and India.

“We are very excited about this new stage in our brand development in the Philippine market that started many years ago. With Grandstar Motors as our new exclusive distributor for Piaggio and Vespa, we are very excited about the future development of these brands and will announce the location of a Group Standard flagship store in the coming months,” managing director of Piaggio Asia Pacific Mark Franklin said.

According to Franklin, they have a line-up of all the Piaggio and Vespa models to be marketed through Grandstar Motors. Other brands such as Gilera, Moto Guzzi and Derbi are still in the works but he was pleased to announce the exclusive appointment of Aprilla brand distribution to Grandstar as well. “We feel this will complete the range of products that they have to offer as a group in all segments of the market and are pleased to have found a suitable partner with the same commercial goal for their brand,” he said.

Together with its partners, Grandstar Motors has 200 outlets nationwide. Multi-brand showroom settings in these outlets are in the works where they would put-up Piaggio corners. They will also come up with at least two exclusive Vespa showrooms by the end of the year.

“Service centers are already open; we have the special tools and we have some emergency parts available. Just the same we have people going back and forth to Singapore for any emergency orders. We are likewise building spare parts, accessories and inventories according to the needs; and old and new owners of Vespa are all welcome,” Go added.

Hardcore Brothers Custom Motorcycle, Inc., headed by Jimmy D.L. Barinaga, the exclusive marketing partner of Grandstar Motors for the distribution of the Piaggio-Vespa brand, added that they already have certified mechanics to attend to the needs of their customers.

After the event at the Esplanade, the 99 new owners of a new LX 150 Vespa scooter, together with some members of the organizing committee and motoring media, had a grand time celebrating the successful event at The Roadhouse Manila Bay, the newest biker bar located at the Mall of Asia Complex. The “Vespa 99 Night,” according to Barinaga, is a preview of many more shocker promos to come.