Vespa Goes Vrroom

U.S. sales of Vespa have grown at double-digit rates since Italian scootermaker Piaggio reintroduced the small bike Stateside in 2000. The company has sold nearly 5,800 so far this year, up 43% from 2002. In November the company added the bigger Granturismo (GT) to court wealthy, first-time buyers. The redesigned GT, priced at $4,899, has a throaty 200-cc engine, sleek design, and storage space for two riders. Piaggio figures it can grab a 25% share of the U.S. market and plans to introduce more models next year to compete with the likes of Yamaha's Vino and Honda's Silver Wing. Says Costantino Sambuy, president and CEO of Piaggio USA: "This is how we're getting the ball rolling."