Piaggio Vehicles, the Indian subsidiary of the Piaggio Group of Italy and manufacturer of small commercial vehicles, has launched the new CNG-powered Apé Xtra LDX for Rs 251,586 (ex-showroom Maharashtra).
The Apé Xtra LDX CNG is designed for cargo applications and has a 5.5-feet-long deck. Piaggio Vehicles claims the vehicle has best-in-class fuel efficiency of 40km/kg of CNG and lowest operating costs.
The latest Piaggio on three wheels is powered by the company’s proven 230cc, air-cooled, naturally-aspirated engine, which promises high pulling power, superior working efficiency, and low cost of maintenance. The Apé Xtra LDX CNG, which develops maximum torque of 17.1Nm, has a top speed of 56kph and benefits from increased gradeability of 26% which enables easy plying on flyovers and hilly terrain. The vehicle has a warranty of 36 months or 100,000km.
Diego Graffi, chairman and MD, Piaggio Vehicles, said: “Our revolutionary Apé is a fuel-agnostic brand, committed to providing our customers with the most suitable options for their needs. Whether it is CNG, LPG, diesel, petrol or electric, we have a product that caters to all.”
Amit Sagar, executive vice-president, CV Domestic Business (ICE) and Retail Finance, Piaggio Vehicles, added: “The Apé Xtra LDX has been developed in response to the customer requirements seeking a product which is easy to maintain, has low operating costs and caters to their varied requirements. Based on this insight, our R&D developed the high-quality Apè Xtra LDX which gives the best returns to our entrepreneurial customers by being extremely fuel efficient and providing the best mileage.”
As per retail dealer body FADA, which released sales numbers for April 2023 today, Piaggio Vehicles sold a total of 5,643 three-wheelers last month, up 19% on year-ago sales (April 2022: 4,746 units), for a current market share of 8 percent. The three-wheeler segment, which sold a total of 70,928 units to post strong 57% YoY growth, is benefiting from growing demand for electric variants, where Piaggio also has a strong presence. With the launch of the Apé Xtra LDX CNG, Piaggio aims to benefit from growing demand for CNG vehicles following the recent price cut in CNG, which reduced the fuel’s price by 9 percent.
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