The Piaggio Group reported an 11.6% drop in net sales for the first quarter of 2013, the result of a struggling economy and unseasonably cold weather in Europe and a flatlining two-wheeler market in Vietnam. There was however some good news in North America, Vespa sales in India and a 27.8% increase in Moto Guzzi sales.

According to the company’s first quarter report, Piaggio reported net sales of 303.4 million euros (US$396.8 million), down from net sales of 343.1 million euros reported the same quarter of 2012. Motorcycles and scooters account for net sales of 181.0 million euros (US$236.8 million), an 8.7% decline from net sales of 198.4 million euros reported in the first quarter of 2012. Overall, the Piaggio Group reported a net profit of 1.1 million euros, compared to 3.2 million euros reported in the first quarter last year. Continue Reading »

Moto Guzzi announced the all new California 1400 Custom and Touring models will land at American dealerships on April 15. The 2014 Moto Guzzi California 1400 Touring will be priced at $17,990 while the Custom version will be available for $14,990. The two new models form the centerpiece for the Piaggio Group‘s efforts to reinvigorate the Moto Guzzi brand. The company has even enlisted actor Ewan McGregor to be the new face of the California 1400 in Moto Guzzi’s new “My Bike, My Pride” global ad campaign.

Check back with us soon for Tom Roderick‘s review of the 2014 Moto Guzzi California 1400 Custom as well as his interview with Miguel Galuzzi, head of Piaggio‘s new design center in Pasadena, Calif.

Billed by Moto Guzzi as the most technologically-advanced cruisers on the market today, the California 1400 models are equipped with the latest electronics technology from the Piaggio, normally seen on the Group’s sportbikes and adventure-tourers. The California 1400s come equipped with ride-by-wire technology offering three ride modes, a three-level traction control system and cruise control. Continue Reading »

Considering how much his films “Long Way Round” and “Long Way Down” for popularizing the GS, you’d think Scottish actor Ewan McGregor was a BMW guy. His friend and co-star in those two travelogues, Charley Boorman is a BMW brand ambassador, and it’d be easy to assume McGregor is as well.

The truth is McGregor, well known for his love of motorcycles, is a much bigger fan of Moto Guzzi. McGregor has owned several Moto Guzzis including a California Vintage and an Ambassador. McGregor also made Moto Guzzi‘s home in Mandello del Lario, Italy, a stop in “Long Way Down”.

With Moto Guzzi entering a rebirth with the launch of its  new flagship California 1400 models, it seemed a natural connection for McGregor to become the face of the new California. The “Star Wars” and “Trainspotting” star recently got a chance to test both the Tourer and Custom versions of the California 1400, and soon after decided to star in Moto Guzzi’s latest ad campaign called “My Bike, My Pride“. Continue Reading »

The Piaggio Group reported a 7.3% decrease in net sales and a 9.0% decrease in net profit for 2012, thanks in large part to a sharp decline in demand in Europe including an all-time low for motorcycle sales in Italy.

Piaggio reported net sales of 1.406 billion euros (US$1.842 billion) in 2012, down from 1.516 billion euros in 2011. Motorcycles and scooters accounted for net sales of 993.3 million euros  (US$1.301 billion), a 3.1% decrease from 1.025 billion euros reported for 2011. Overall net profit decreased to 42.1 million euros (US$55.2 million) on the year, down from 46.3 million euros.

The Italian company, which owns the brands Aprilia, Derbi, Gilera, Moto Guzzi, Piaggio and Vespa, sold 406,100 motorcycles and scooters in 2012, a 2.1% decrease from the reported sales of 415,000 units in 2011. Piaggio attributes much of the decline to the weak European market. Continue Reading »

A pair of muscular-looking V-Twin cruisers sit on a dais in front of a dramatically lit backdrop as attractive female brand representatives greet guests, answer questions and pose for pictures. This scene is fairly commonplace at convention centers during the motorcycle show season, but Moto Guzzi is taking the scenario to a new location: airports.

Moto Guzzi is bringing the motorcycle show experience to select airports in Europe to promote its new California 1400 models. Earlier this month, Moto Guzzi displayed the California 1400, in both Touring and Custom garb, at Linate Airport in Milan, Italy, Leonardo da Vinci International Airport in Rome and Frankfurt Airport in Germany, offering passengers a look at the company’s new flagship cruiser and tourer. Similar displays are currently set up in London’s Heathrow Airport and Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris until Feb. 28.

The display models were accompanied by hostess in Moto Guzzi-branded jackets to answer questions about the bikes, help visitors take a seat and pose for pictures. The hostesses also carry tablets with more information about the California models and to help collect information from visitors. Continue Reading »

The Piaggio Group announced it has secured a €60 million (US$77.6 million) financing deal with the European Investment Bank to fund the development of new products.

The seven-year loan will fund research and development projects at Piaggio’s Italian facilities. The loan is in addition to investments Piaggio already budgeted for the period from 2013 to 2015 to develop new products. The new research and development projects will focus on three fields: safety, fuel-efficient combustion engines and alternative fuel technologies.

For safety, Piaggio will be working on active, passive and preventative safety measures. This is especially important in light of recent legislation enacted by the European Parliament to make ABS mandatory for motorcycles and scooters with engines larger than 125cc by 2016. Piaggio has already gotten a start toward that goal, gradually adding ABS to models such as the 2013 Aprilia RSV4 R and RSV4 Factory. Continue Reading »

Last week, we got a peak at the new touring version of the Moto Guzzi California 1400, the new flagship cruiser from the Italian brand. Piaggio has now presented the new California 1400 at the 2012 EICMA Show in both its touring trim and the custom version pictured above.

The new Moto Guzzi California 1400 is powered by a 1380cc V-Twin engine, which Piaggio claims is the largest V-Twin produced by an European manufacturer. The redesigned four-valve engine has the same stroke as the previous California’s 1151cc engine but with a larger 104mm bore. According to Piaggio, the engine produces 95 hp at 6500 rpm and 88.5 ft-lb. at 2750 rpm. Despite the larger engine displacement, Piaggio still claims a 15-20% improvement in fuel economy compared to the previous version. Continue Reading »

Photographs of the final production touring version of the Moto Guzzi California 1400 have emerged, just days before the bagger’s impending debut at the 2012 EICMA show.

The 2013 Moto Guzzi California 1400 will come equipped with ride-by-wire throttle, switchable maps, ABS, traction control and cruise control, making it perhaps the most technologically-advanced Moto Guzzi ever developed.

Powering the California 1400 is an air/oil-cooled 1380cc V-Twin engine mounted longitudinally in Moto Guzzi fashion. The engine is based on the previous California’s engine, but with a larger bore and the same stroke. The engine has a claimed output of 95 hp at 6500 rpm and 88.5 ft-lb. at 2750 rpm. Power is delivered through a six-speed transmission along a shaft drive to the rear wheel. Continue Reading »

The Piaggio Group reported a 9.1% decrease in net sales over the first nine months of 2012 compared to the same period in 2011, thanks in large part to a strong decline in the European market for two-wheelers.

According to Piaggio‘s third quarter 2012 report, the Italian manufacturer recorded 706.3 million euros (US$913.8 million) in motorcycle and scooter sales, compared to 777.2 million in sales over the same period of 2011.

The Piaggio Group, which also includes the brands Aprilia, Moto Guzzi, Vespa and other brands, sold 321,300 motorcycles and scooters in the first nine months of 2012, a year-on-year decrease of 3.5% from 2011. Vespa alone accounted for 37.7% of all unit sales with consumers picking up 121,000 units. Moto Guzzi also saw a 13.7% improvement with sales of 5,400 units compared to 4,800 units in 2011. Piaggio also reported an unspecified boost in sport bike sales from its Aprilia brand. Continue Reading »

Back in March, Piaggio Vice President of design Miguel Galluzzi revealed the Italian firm would release several versions of the new Moto Guzzi California 1400 including a full touring version. We’ve seen photographs of the new California in prototype form from Piaggio‘s North American dealer meeting, but we’ve now come across a picture of what looks like the final production version in full touring trim.

The picture,  appears to have been leaked from an official catalog photoshoot, shows the new Moto Guzzi California 1400 with hard bags, engine bars, extra lighting and windscreen. Unlike the prototype we saw in March, the one in this photograph has a slightly larger front fender, passenger grab handle, blacked-out engine, two-tone seat and longer pipes. Continue Reading »