* Says crisis is not finished

* Record India sales in Aug for 3-, 4-wheel vehicles

* Shares up 0.25 percent

Italian scooter maker Piaggio's (PIA.MI) chairman and chief executive Roberto Colaninno called on Thursday for the government to continue with its incentives to support the vehicle industry in the economic downturn.

Colaninno said he absolutely agreed with the warning from Fiat SpA MFIA.MI> chief executive Sergio Marchionne on Wednesday that an end to incentives would be disastrous.

The importance for the vehicle industry (of incentives) has been a determining factor for managing this crisis which is not finished, Colaninno said on his way to a news conference.

If they are interrupted I agree that it would be absolutely negative.

Piaggio, best known for its Vespa scooters, had sold a record 18,000 three- and four-wheel vehicles in India in August, he said.

At 1007 GMT, shares in Piaggio were up 0.25 percent at 1.614 euros. The DJ Stoxx auto index .SXAP was down 0.43 percent. (Reporting by Nigel Tutt; Editing by Greg Mahlich)

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