Vespa RED Coming To India

Piaggio Group, the makers of the iconic Vespa range of scooters, has a collaborative partnership with RED, an organisation founded in 2006 by U2 frontman Bono and activist Bobby Shriver, that has generated more than $465 million to the Global Fund to Fight Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria. RED partners with global brands, which contributes up to 50% of profits from RED-branded products (e.g. the iPhone 7 Red) to the Global Fund. These donations made by RED have enabled Global Fund to help over 70 million people worldwide. The funds collected are used to offer preventive measures, treatments, counselling, HIV tests and assistance services.

The Vespa 946 – RED is a product of this collaboration and has been designed with elegance in order to portray the brand’s sensitivity to the cause. It symbolises the company’s efforts in battling some of the worst illnesses that humankind faces. Available in Europe, Asia and the United States, the Vespa 946 – RED, an all-red version of the standard 946 scooter that is powered by a 125cc engine, is the most exclusive and most valuable Vespa till date and is the only product in the automotive world to have been chosen by RED.

For each Vespa 946 – RED sold internationally, $150 is donated to the Global Fund to fight AIDS. This has enabled RED to provide over 500 days worth of life-saving HIV medication in sub-Saharan Africa. The medication helps prevent HIV-infected mothers from passing the infection to their unborn children.

The Vespa 946 - RED, however, will not be making it to India as its sibling, the 946 Emporio Armani that was priced at Rs 10 lakh (ex-showroom) and launched last year, has also been withdrawn from the line-up. Instead, the Indian arm of the Italian scooter manufacturer is looking at bringing the RED variant as an addition to its existing 125cc and 150cc scooter line-up in India. 

The 150cc model range includes the VXL, SXL and the Elegante and is powered by an air-cooled, 3-valve power plant that produces a peak power output of 11.6PS @7000rpm and a peak torque of 11.5 Nm generated at 5500rpm.

The 125cc model range consists of the VXL, SXL, and the standard version powered by an air-cooled, 3-valve motor that produces a peak power output of 10.06PS @7500rpm and a peak torque of 10.6 Nm generated at 6000rpm.

Vespa’s range of scooters is priced between Rs 71,058 for the standard 125cc scooter and Rs 97,372 for the Vespa Elegante (both, ex-showroom Delhi). When launched, we expect the Vespa RED models to be dearer by Rs 5,000 to Rs 10,000, depending on the model.