Operation Vijay launched

Piaggio Vehicles Pvt Ltd has launched a promotional drive called 'Operation Vijay' to boost sales in Gujarat, which is one of the major three-wheeler markets in the country.

Company officials said that the January 2001 earthquake and subsequent communal riots had destablised its sales prospects in the state.

The company sells around 400 vehicles in the state per month through a network of 11 dealerships and 10 outlets. It has also appointed the Ahmedabad-based Maniar and Company to manufacture all its customised vehicles.

"Today is an important day for Piaggio. We have handed over the company's 1,50,000th Ape to a customer of Ahmedabad. And today also marks the beginning of 'Operation Vijay'," said D K Dhamija, sales and marketing director of Piaggio Vehicles Pvt Ltd.

Piaggio's Ape was launched across the county in the last quarter of 1999 and while initial sales in Gujarat were brisk, the earthquake and communal riots dimmed the company's growth.

"We wish to substantially improve on the existing number and create new markets in the state," Dhamija said.

Shafee Maniar, group president of Maniar and Company, said, had it not for the troubles in the state, the company would have sold more vehicles in Ahmedabad.

"But with 'Operation Vijay', we expect the sales of Ape in Ahmedabad to go up to more than 250 vehicles in a quarter," Maniar said.