Piaggio India sees a premium tide rising

Co will launch its Aprilia high-performance motorcycles in 2024

- Alisha Sachdev

Mid-sized premium motorcycle sales are poised to grow fivefold within three-four years, as India’s motorcycle market, traditionally dominated by commuter bikes for daily transportation, shifts toward high-performance models with advanced styling and features, Diego Graffi, chairman and managing director of Piaggio India, said in an interview.

The segment, although currently small, is rapidly expanding while the core commuter motorcycle market in India is contracting, he said. This will attract many international brands, as well as new and existing domestic brands, to the 300cc-500cc segments, he added.

To illustrate this trend, Graffi said international brands such as KTM, BMW, Triumph and Harley-Davidson have collaborated with domestic original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to manufacture premium motorcycles in India. Furthermore, India also plays a vital role as an export hub for the companies’ lower displacement products.