PARIS: Piaggio breaks ground on new manufacturing facility
By Kate Sarsfield
Piaggio has broken ground on its new facility in Villanova d'Albenga. The 49,300m² (530,680ft²) plant will house parts, subassembly and engine manufacture, repair and overhaul for the Italian airframer's P180 Avanti II business aircraft. To open in 2013, the €100 million ($145 million) facility will replace Piaggio's more than 90-year-old plant in Finale Ligure.
"It's a red-letter day for Piaggio," said company chairman Piero Ferrari. "I'm proud that Piaggio is able to continue its industrial expansion in Italy, and with the great support of our primary international shareholders Mubadala [Abu Dhabi] and Tata [India], will continue down the path of sustained future growth "
The new production plant will be located in 127,000m² in a "strategic position" behind Villanova d'Albenga airport with direct access to a 1,500m runway.
