Maxabout Review

LML is back!!

Lohia Machines Limited (LML) has re-entered the Indian market, after a gap of 14 months, with its Vespa brand of geared scooters. The company’s decision to stage a comeback has been fuelled mainly by the revival of the scooter sector in India of late.

LML has started operations with two dealers in New Delhi and is targeting sales of 500 units in the next few months. NV is not a new scooter - it is the same old scooter that LML used to produce and export. LML stopped its production in Kanpur plant in Feb 2006 due to severe financial crunch, the plant has an installed capacity of 3 lakh scooters & 2.4 lakh motorcycles.

NV SPL comes equipped with 149.5 cc 2 stroke single cylinder air-cooled engine delivering maximum power of 8.0 bhp at 5500 rpm. Its wider wheelbase of 1235 mm provides better grip on road. It has fuel tank of 8 litres capacity. LML was the first to offer scooters with fuel gauge in instrument panel, side spare wheel, electric start, rear carrier, single saddle, outstanding turn-indicators with beepers.

LML had five motorcycle models in the domestic market before February 2006. LML used to sell around 1,000 units a month in the national capital region(Delhi) before it downed the shutters. LML resumed partial operations in April with the export of geared scooters to Egypt, West Asia and Africa, besides Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

Shares of the troubled two-wheeler manufacturer shot up on August 14, 2007, after newspapers reported that the company had resumed the sale of its Vespa brand of geared scooters in the domestic market.NV is available in two models - Kick start & electric start which has been priced at Rs. 39000.00 and Rs. 42000.00 respectively.