Piaggio Vietnam market director Stefano Cartoni told the VIR that the company was poised to join the larger-capacity superbike market in Vietnam.

“There is room for superbike market growth in the Vietnamese market. Besides scooter brands like Vespa and Piaggio which are selling well in Vietnam, we also have well-known superbike brands like Moto Guzzi and Aprilia and these brands should make their appearance this year,” said Cartoni.

Aprilia, an Italian motorcycle company and one of the marques owned by Piaggio, came into being after the Second World War while Moto Guzzi is proud of having history dating back in Italy from 1921.

These two brands were incorporated into the Piaggio Group in 2004.

Piaggio’s Moto Guzzi and Aprilia are expected to heat up the local market. These first superbikes will surface in Piaggio’s global standard Motoplex showrooms in Ho Chi Minh City within this year, according to Piaggio Vietnam.

“Vietnamese consumers have a growing appetite for more costly and stylish bikes. Superbikes are enjoying a growth momentum despite the motorbike market in general being on a downward trend,” said Cartoni.

The group’s Motoplex showrooms also house bike components and Piaggio’s diverse range of vehicle models.

In fact, the larger-capacity superbike market has proven appealing to quite a few market players.

Early this year, Italian superbike brand Benelli looked at Vietnam as a global strategic market and the first place worldwide for launching of its new Benelli TNT25 although sales of Benelli superbikes in Vietnam is not as high as in some other Southeast Asian markets like Thailand and Malaysia.

Last year, Benelli sold about 1,200 bikes in Vietnam and is expected to triple sales in Vietnam this year through the simultaneous launch of four new versions and improved distribution preparations, according to Vo Minh Trang, chairman of Motorrock Vietnam which is the Vietnam dealer for Benelli bikes.

Seven units of BMW Motorrad, the motorcycle brand of well-known German company BMW, were sold in Vietnam after their launch this January.

Early this year, BMW Motorrad launched eight superbike to Vietnam with prices starting from VND538 million ($25,100) for its C600 Sport line and from VND759 million ($35,400) for R1200GS Adventure line.

The brand hopes to sell 300 units in Vietnam this year.