According to the Reuters news service, Italian scooter maker Piaggio & C SpA cut its sales forecast “in a revision of its business plan” today, due to the slower economy and subsequent weaker sales.

The report of weaker sales is in high contrast to the many reports in the press now of record scooter sales. Their numbers may be due to Piaggio’s flagship scooter line, Vespa, high price points in comparison to other brands of scooters.

However, in green news, Piaggio announced plans to continue its work on development of a four-wheel hybrid vehicle.

“Despite the global downturn, Piaggio said it had kept working on the development of new models, such as a four-wheel vehicle with a hybrid engine.

“Based on a three- and four-wheel light commercial vehicle made by Piaggio called the Ape — Italian for ‘bee’ — it would be big enough for three people to drive around town.”