International Dealer News IDN 137 June/July 2017 | Page 10

news ROOM
Piaggio unit sales +10.3 percent
worldwide for Q1 2017
For the first quarter of 2017, the
Piaggio Group posted profit before
tax of 2.5 million euro, up +17.9%
compared with 2.1 million euro in the
first quarter of 2016, and closed the
first quarter of 2017 with net profit of
1.5 million euro, an increase
compared with 1.3 million euro in the
first quarter of 2016.
In the first quarter of 2017, the Group
sold 82,500 two-wheelers worldwide
(up +10.3% from 74,800 in the year-
earlier period), generating net sales of
218.9 million euro, an improvement of
5.2% from 208.2 million euro in the
first quarter of 2016. The figure
includes spares and accessories, on
which turnover totalled 29.7 million
euro, an increase of +4.6% from the
year-earlier period.
Piaggio says it continued to strengthen
its European two-wheeler market
share, taking 14.2% of available sales
(13.6% in the first quarter of 2016),
and 26.4% (24.5% in the year-earlier
period) in the scooter sector with a
lead of almost 10 percentage points
from its nearest competitor.
Highlights in the scooter sector
included good results for the Vespa
brand, with the Aprilia brand also
performing well. Performance was
also positive in high-wheel scooters,
with a healthy performance in
motorcycle markets thanks to a
+7.1% increase in Moto Guzzi sales.
The Group maintained a particularly
strong presence on the North
American scooter market, with a
share of 21.6%; it is also committed
to strengthening its position in
motorcycles in North America. In
January 2017, the Piaggio Group
announced the strengthening of its
distribution network after reaching
the important milestone of 200
Motoplex stores in Europe, the
Americas, Oceania, Asia and India.
Launched only two years ago, the
Group multi-brand stores are in
parallel and additional to their
traditional outlets.
ACEM elects new top management
The Brussels based European
Association of Motorcycle
Manufacturers (ACEM) has
elected a new leadership team
during its 2017 Spring Congress
held in Berlin.
Mr Stefan Pierer, CEO of KTM
AG, will become President of
ACEM as of 1 July 2017. He will
succeed Mr Stephan Schaller,
President of BMW Motorrad,
who will start serving as Vice-
President of ACEM on the same
date.
The European Association will
also have a new Vice-President:
Mr Michele Colaninno, who is
member of Piaggio & C. SpA’s
board of directors as well as
CEO and COO of the Immsi
Group, which controls the
Piaggio Group and also holds
investments in a number of
important Italian industrial
groups.
Left to right: Stephan Schaller, BMW Motorrad President; Stefan Pierer, KTM
CEO; Michele Colaninno, Member of Piaggio Board of Directors and CEO/COO
of the Immsi Group
Mr Stephan Schaller said: “I am
delighted to announce that Mr
Pierer will become the
President of our European
association. He is a widely-
respected business leader with
substantial global experience
and an excellent choice by our
Kellermann launch new
premium dealer strategy
achen, Germany based motorcycle
lights manufacturer Kellermann GmbH
has introduced a new Premium Dealer
programme, initially in Germany.
The new CEO of Kellermann, Dr. Stefan
Wöste, highlighted the important role
of their sales partners in the success of
the company. “Our dealers and sales
partners have been vital contributors
to the success of Kellermann in the last
almost 30 years. That has made us
become one of the market leaders in
the LED indicators market,” he said.
From April 2017 a new website has
offered a separate B2B dealer shop
with new discount rates, and
10
registered dealers can also be
displayed on a geographical map.
Kellermann says it will separate their
partners into four segments: Dealers,
Dealers & Workshop, Premium Dealers
and Premium Dealers & Workshop.
“Premium Dealers will not only benefit
from further improved terms and
conditions, but will also be able to
INTERNATIONAL DEALER NEWS - JUNE/JULY 2017
showcase the Kellermann products
live and in action with a newly
developed display,” said Wöste. “We
know that our products convince
customers who are able to see them in
use. While it is not always possible to
show products installed on a
motorcycle in a dealership, this new
display will showcase our products
ideally and support the dealer’s sales
pitch in the best possible way”!
Dealers who want to work with
Kellermann, or upgrade to the new
Premium Dealer level, should register
online at www.kellermann-
online.com at the dealer shop.
General Assembly
to continue leading
ACEM”.
Mr Stefan Pierer
said: “Mr Schaller has done an
excellent job at positioning
ACEM for the future. I know I
speak for the whole European
motorcycle community in
stating how much this work is
appreciated. I look forward to
start my term as President and
to work for a stronger
association that promotes
motorcycling across Europe”.
Mr Michele Colaninno said:
“The Presidium will work to
ensure that issues such as free
trade, road safety and
environmental protection
remain at the core of the work
done at ACEM, taking into
account the strategic directions
adopted by the European
institutions”.