Piaggio Group Americas, importer and distributor
of Aprilia, Moto Guzzi, Piaggio and Vespa brands, announces the opening of
its new national Technical Center in Costa Mesa, CA. The 12,000 square foot
facility houses the company's product testing and technical training
operations, including factory product training and classroom instruction for
service technicians from all U.S. and Canadian dealerships, as well as Latin
American importers.
Piaggio, which had all-time record-setting U.S. sales
in 2008, continues to expand both its model line and dealer network with
over 500 dealers serving customers in North America. The company also
anticipates ongoing strong demand for its diverse range of scooters and
motorcycles as consumers shift focus to more economical personal
transportation.
With design, engineering and manufacturing based in Italy, providing North
and South American dealers and importers with more convenient access to
factory expertise and the latest technical information is especially
important to Piaggio Group America's U.S. based team.
"While many manufacturers choose to train technicians at technical colleges,
we believe that nothing compares to getting the inside story about the
latest Aprilia, Moto Guzzi, Piaggio or Vespa straight from the factory's own
technical experts," said Erik Larson, Director, Technical Service and
Warranty, Piaggio Group Americas. "Factory-level training means that our
dealer service professionals will learn from the very best the technical
professionals who were part of a new motorcycle or scooter model¹s actual
development. And, that first-hand factory expertise translates into a real
service edge for Piaggio dealers."
The new facility expands Piaggio¹s presence in Orange County, California, a
home base for numerous motorcycle manufacturers, suppliers and industry
groups. In addition to giving the company a bigger West Coast footprint,
the new Technical Center also allows Piaggio's U.S. team access to ongoing
road and off-road testing. Whether it's the powerful new Vespa GTS 300
Super scooter or cutting-edge new technology, such as the Aprilia 850 Mana¹s
unique transmission management system, staff can now evaluate each product's
technical strengths in both classroom and real world settings, year-round.
In addition to product testing and technician training, the Piaggio
Technical Center also serves as the headquarters for the company¹s West
Coast press and promotional fleet, including media test bikes.
