In face of strengthening market, Piaggio struggles with production
For its sleek Avanti II, Piaggio reports a two-year backlog valued at more than $600 million.

For its sleek Avanti II, Piaggio reports a two-year backlog valued at more than $600 million. That’s the good news. The bad news is that despite efforts to increase production, the Italian manufacturer shows little sign of putting a credible dent in that backlog in the near future.

This is the predicament into which Eric Hinson stepped in January, when he took over as the new president and CEO of Piaggio America, Piaggio Aero’s North American business entity, in what is by far the largest market for the rakish twin-turboprop pusher.