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WIDE REWIND
BY 03/16

FROM AFRICA AND SOUTH AMERICA

OVERSEAS IMPORTERS IN TUSCANY
FOR THE LAUNCH OF THE NEW APE’ CITY AND ROMANZA

The historic Medici Villa in Artimino, also known as “La Ferdinanda” or the villa of one hundred chimneys, is a 17th-century gem set on a knoll facing the eponymous medieval village, part of the municipality of Carmignano (Prato), in the heart of Tuscany. For years, the stately building has been a well-known location for congresses and events, as well as home to the local archaeological museum. This was the fascinating setting chosen by Piaggio Veicoli Commerciali for the presentation to its overseas importers of the new Apé City and Apé Romanza passenger vehicles, intended specifically for markets in Africa and South America.
The launch organised in India at the beginning of the year by the subsidiary Piaggio Vehicles Private Limited (PVPL) for Asian dealers and importers, was followed by the presentation event in Italy in May (16 and 17) for the importers on these key markets, managed directly by the 3-4 Wheeler EMEA and Emerging Markets division: the Tuscan villa hosted businessmen from Colombia, Guatemala, Honduras, Peru, Ethiopia, Somalia, Kuwait, Indonesia, Tunisia, Sudan, Morocco, Djibouti.

The two-day event was a packed round of meetings and test rides. It was also an important opportunity to meet the Piaggio Commercial Vehicles team: in addition to the presentation of the details of the new vehicles and road tests, the importers had a direct encounter with the corporate organisation that provides them with support from marketing and communication to sales, aftersales service, spare parts and technical assistance, logistics, down to the training sessions and meetings for the employees of the network of dealers managed by the importers. Numerous events have been organised in recent months with more than 300 technical personnel taking part (from Honduras, Ethiopia, Peru and Paraguay), and are due to continue in Africa (in July) and South America (where an international meeting will be held in November). Other support tools include documentation, videos, newsletters, manuals, online catalogues, regular conference calls, etc.

The partnership between Piaggio Commercial Vehicles/Piaggio Group and the importers is of great value in achieving the common goal of growing together on markets where the growing mobility needs of people living in huge territories, not reached by road networks or public services, find an effective solution in the three-wheel vehicles of the Apé range, the heir to products that have been transporting goods and people in many countries for almost seventy years. Tradition, experience, competence and brand strength combined with continuous aesthetic and technological improvement. The new City and Romanza models confirm this.

PRIZES FOR THE TOP IMPORTERS

The Villa Artimino meeting was also an opportunity to pay tribute to the top importers and distributors of the Piaggio Commercial Vehicles range on the 3-4 W EMEA and Emerging Markets: director Vincenzo Scardigno and Sergio Rubino (Head of 3-4W Overseas Markets) presented prizes to recognise the excellent performance of: Tagrow Business PLC (Ethiopia), “Best Market Share Africa 2015”; Pelican Motors LTD (Somalia), “Outstanding Sales Growth 2015”; Central Americana de Distribution Cadisa (Guatemala) “Best Market Share Latin America 2015”; Italgama S.a.s. (Colombia), “Best Practice Cargo Business 2015”.

APEWAY ETHIOPIA:
SETTING NEW RECORDS

On the subject of top performances, during the event a video was projected on the extraordinary adventure of the Taurinorum Team and three Piaggio Ape vans in 2015. As the team crossed Ethiopia, they provided support for the initiatives of NGOs that assist the local population by promoting road safety and also setting a record: the Ape is the first three-wheel vehicle ever to cross the Omo Valley. The expedition was backed by Piaggio Commercial Vehicles and the Ethiopian importer Tagrow, in cooperation with the Italian Embassy in Addis Ababa. New ventures (and new records) are already being planned: there is no lack of countries to host them, to judge by the enthusiasm with which the African and Central-South American importers responded to the video on the Taurinorum Team shown at the meeting. Take a look at it here:

ApeWay Ethiopia

Articles and reports on the ApeWay Ethiopia expedition are published in Wide Magazine:
wide.piaggiogroup.com/archive/
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