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Guzzisti express concern over Piaggio's closure of Mandello factory

"An open letter to Piaggio: In the last few months we have witnessed a constant trickle of alarming news concerning the future of Moto Guzzi. First, the liquidation of Moto Guzzi as an independent corporation, which leaves a brand unsupported by its original and unique industrial identity , like it has already happened with Laverda or Gilera . Soon thereafter, the announcement of temporary layoffs to last two months on account of the “refurbishing” of the via Parodi plant. The quotes are those which can be found on all newspaper articles on the subject, since the goodness of Piaggio’s intentions is openly questioned by the press and the unions, who fear that this exercise is really about permanent layoffs and the first step to get rid of the Mandello plant. With this open letter we would like on the one hand to express our solidarity to the workers and their families, hit by such unusual layoffs. On the other hand, as enthusiasts of the brand, to express our concern that , at this crucial juction, on the eve of two of the most important motorcycle exhibitions in Europe, Piaggio is unable to clarify its position and let the rumors on the fate of the Mandello plant expand exponentially, causing yet more damage to the brand’s image. The media and the web keep hosting a growing number of different rumors on the strategies of Piaggio concerning the Mandello plant. On its part, Piaggio hasn’t been able to issue any clear reply yet, just an awkward perfunctory denial which has failed to convince all interested parties. We find this very disconcerting. We would like Piaggio management to state loud and clear what they have in mind. Let’s have a detailed description of the work in progress and its timetable. Let’s once and for all clearly state what future Piaggio management sees for the plant in Via Parodi n. 57 – what production, how many workers, doing what, and what timeframe for the changes. Let’s clarify immediately the most controversial points : it is frankly not believable that 5 years are necessary to remodel a plant , nor that 12.5 million euro are an investment of such magnitude as to warrant a 5 year project. Let Piaggio management shed some light and dispel the doubts. In conclusion, we respectfully request that Piaggio management take a clear and decisive position, stating if and how much Piaggio intends to invest in the factory in Mandello del Lario, an Italian Heritage which can and should be preserved and relaunched, instead of being mortified and reduced to a worthless badge. We feel the plant in Mandello is a valuable ingredient of the worth of the brand, the way it is perceived worldwide. As the industrial unit at the very heart of Moto Guzzi , not as a hollow shell with an uncertain future, perhaps a dusty motorcycle museum".

With the news that Piaggio is to close the Mandello factory for several
months in order to carry out what it has called "refurbishments" concern has
been growing in the minds of Moto Guzzi fans about the possibility that the
scooter manufacturer's intentions may be more sinister.

It is incredibly alarming that at a time when the name of Moto Guzzi is
beginning to once again reach out to a great many motorcyclists who perhaps as recently as last year may not even have considered a Mandello product as a worth while venture.

With the Breva, Norge, Bellagio, Stelvio and Griso the brand of the eagle
has been gaining critical acclaim at a steady pace. I, who have been
enamoured with these bikes for many years, have noticed this in a marked
manner since starting to build Squadra Guzzista. It is therefore with great
sadness that I heard the news about Piaggio's closusre of Mandello and
the possible repercussions of this.

Speculation, naturally, has been rifr amongst groups of Guzzisti around
the world. There is not a forum that has not been discussing this very matter
in recent weeks.

With this, Moto Guzzi enthusiasts in Italy have decided on an initiative to
attempt to glean answers from the directors of the Piaggio group. Members
of the Anima Guzzista club, one of the largest and most active of Guzzi related organisations, have drafted an open letter to Piaggio asking for clarification of its intentions.

I have added a translation of said letter in the panel to the left of this text.

Will Piaggio listen to a bunch of Moto Guzzi fans? Will sending this letter
achieve anything? Who knows? But what is certain, is that Piaggio are a
commercial organisation interested in selling motorcycles.

If they are not interested in a bunch of Guzzisti sending a letter then they
should be interested that a large proportion of its customer base hold the
tradition, history, and mistyque of this most remarkable of motorcycle brands
in much higher esteem than Piaggio is evidently holding in terms of the staff of the Mandello factory who it has treated in a very poor manner.

Our friends of Anima Guzzista are gathering the names of people around
the world who share the same view that the motorcycling worlf is in need
of Moto Guzzi motorcycles being built at mandello in the future, because as
far as we are concerned, the success of the current crop of motorcycles
prove there is a great deal of life left in the glorious Mandello eagle.

Please, please, show your support of our factory , our brand, our motorcycles, and our heritage to this endeavour so we can demonstrate to the bosses at Piaggio that this is an incredibly important issue to all of us.

The list of names are being gathered on the Anima Guzzista forum, however,
in the interest of enabling those who do not speak italian to do so, we also
have the facility on our own Squadra Guzzista forum: HERE. You will have
to register but please, please do so, even if this is the only post you ever make.

Squadra Guzzista forum member "Aguzzo" is our link with Anima Guzzista
and he will ensure you are added to the letter's signatories. We will need
your name, your home town, and your country.

How else can you help?

Spread the word! Tell everyone you know! Post a link to this
page on any motorcycling forums you participate in! Pass a link to this page to the motorcycling press! At the foot of this page you will see links to facebook, stumbleupon, and del.icio.us, post a link to this page on there too.

Tell everyone you know, around the world, so we are able to
demonstrate to Piaggio that we are many, and that we care
about Moto Guzzi! Pass the youtube video at left to everyone
you can think of...let's make this huge!