VeSPA Scooters

Since its first appearance 50 yeas ago, over 15 million Vespas have been sold. They continue to sell well today all over the world. The name Vespa means “wasp" in Italian and refers to the original body shape of the well-known scooter line. Though the Vespa is not the first scooter, it is certainly the best known all over the world. Vespa is a prodigy of the Piaggio Company in Genoa, Italy – the company that designs and manufactures these unique vehicles. Other names may appear on Vespa scooters as well since licensing agreements all over the world have allowed this. The Piaggio scooters are produced by the name company; however, these scooters incorporate a newer, modern design.

The first Vespa was produced in 1946 and became an instant success. This early body design is still largely produced; Vespa’s timeless design is what has made it such a popularity around the world. Many model variations have been produced with small but noticeable differences. Engine sizes have ranged from 50-200cc.

Ever since its introduction to the market, the Vespa body has been made of steel. The body is a pressed steel monocoque chassis that has always set the Vespa apart from other mass-produced scooter. This manufacturing tradition not only makes the line stand out, but it provides structural rigidity and performance. Today, Vespa’s steel frame tradition continues in its Pontedera facility in Italy. This is perpetuated with the most advanced and innovative manufacturing methods. Vespas are designed and manufactured to perform and last for years to come! 

Early on, companies began to compete against the Piaggio Company and its Vespa scooter line. One of the earliest and most effective competitors against Vespa was another Italian company – Innocenti. Innocenti developed their own scooter line called the Lambrettas. At the time, Vespas were already dominant among the public who rode scooter in Italy. As a result, Innocenti focused their attention and focus marketing to those who wanted something that had both more style and more performance than the Vespa line. Because of these two factors, the love for Lambretta scooters have endured despite the manufacturer’s struggle in the market.

The first lambretta

The first was introduced to the public in 1947 – one year after the first Vespa. The rivalry between the two models had led the two manufacturers to come up with better and increasingly innovative models. However, Innocenti ran into a number of financial difficulties and eventually had to stop production of the Lambretta line in 1970.

Fall of innocenti - the company of lambretta

The original Lambretta plant was later sold off to Scooters India, Limited (SIL). The plant moved to India, where it still exists. While the plant equipment and overhead were being transported and reassembled in India, the Serveta Company of Eibar, Spain picked up a license from Innocenti to produce a line of Lambretta scooters that had slight variations from the standard Innocenti designs. In 1979, SIL began manufacturing the older Innocenti designs. However, it struggled as a government owned operation. The last handful of Lambretta GP200 scooters was produced in 1997; there are rumors that the plan is in the process of relocation to Turkey. Manufacture may resume there during the new millennium under new ownership. Despite the company’s problems, the love for the Lambretta scooter continues to live on around the world. 

Sears Scooters

What are Allstate or Sears scooters? For many years, U.S.A. retailer Sears, Roebuck & Company sold scooters in both their catalogs and retail stores. However, these scooters were always re-badged scooters produced by various specialized scooter manufacturers. For example, Sears sold either Cushman or Vespa scooters under the “Allstate” label. The Allstate label was also used for mopeds and small motorcycles produced by manufacturer Puch. For a few years, scooters were also sold under the “Sears” label as well.

Most of the Allstate scooters that Sears sold were very basic Vespa models that were different mainly in their cosmetic and aesthetic details. Plus, they lacked the front dampeners of Vespas. Put aside the differentiations, they were Vespas in every respect eventhough collectors often perceive them as having less value, mainly because of the large number that was sold over the years and the lack of the well-known Vespa aesthetic details. Cushman also sold step-thru scooters to Sears for their mail-order sales during the years of 1951 to 1961. With only minor changes from the normal production runs, the scooters were sold under the Allstate name. 

Yamaha Scooters

Did you know that Yamaha marketed a classic scooter back in 1960 in Japan? However, it was not much of a success sine Fuji and Mitsubishi was largely dominating the Japanese market. As a result, in the mid-60s, Yamaha gave up. Like Honda, Yamaha re-entered the scooter market in 1980. It brought with it updated versions of their earlier designs. This time, they were successful not only in Asia, but also in Europe and in the United States. Yamaha has also entered into various licensing agreements with other companies around the world. The company produces a popular scooter line in France through their subsidiary MBK, which sells quite well throughout the European regions, including Italy. 

Honda Scooters

Honda had been producing classic scooters since the 50s and 60s in Japan. However, because its competitors (Fuji and Mitsubishi) were both far better at it, Honda decided to give up in the mid-60s. It redirected its attention on their Cub moped line instead. The irony however was that the wild success of Honda’s Cub actually ended up driving Fuji and Mitsubishi out of the two-wheeled market forever.

It wasn’t until 1980 that Honda decided to re-enter the Japanese scooter market. It later began exporting their new modern scooters to the United States, Europe and Asia, which turned out to be very successful. These scooters have been licensed to other companies and Honda has grown to the same position of Vespa’s Piaggio Company. Honda continues its quest to increase market share. It has set up plants around the world to produce scooters. This includes production in Italy, where Honda scooters sell quite well. 

About the Piaggio Company - Makers of Vespa

The Piaggio Company has been around much longer than their famous Vespa scooter line. The company was a distinguished innovator in the field of transportation. Piaggio was founded in Genoa, Italy in 1884 by 20-year-old Rinaldo Piaggio. He started his business first with luxury ship fitting. By the end of the century, Piaggio’s company was producing rail carriages, luxury coaches, truck bodies, engines and trains.

During the World War I, the company forged new grounds by entering into the production of airplanes and seaplanes. In 1917, Piaggio decided to buy a new plant in Pisa. Four years later, the company continued to take over a small plant in Pontedera in the Tuscany region. The new plant in Pontedera became the Piaggio’s center for aeronautical production, rolling out propellers, engines and complete aircraft parts.

During the onset of World War II, Piaggio’s Pontedera plant built the state-of-the-art P-108 four-engine aircraft. This was available in both the passenger and bomber version. However, the plant was later completely destroyed by Allied bombers due to the plant’s military importance.

New Direction for Piaggio

Rinaldo’s son, Enrico Piaggio, had taken over the company after his father. He was concerned about the disastrous state of the war-ravaged roads and the Italian economy. As a result, he turned the company’s focus toward meeting the personal mobility needs of the Italian people.

Piaggio’s ingenious aeronautical engineer, Corradino D’Ascanio, at the time designed, constructed and flew the first modern helicopter. With Piaggio’s new focus, he set out to design a simple, sturdy and economical vehicle that was both comfortable and elegant. D’Ascanio couldn’t stand motorcycles and subsequently came up with a revolutionary new vehicle. Using the influence of the latest aeronautical technology at the time, he envisioned a vehicle that could be built on a monocoque (this is French for “single shell”) or a steel body frame, which becomes a Vespa tradition.

The result: The Vespa - an aircraft-inspired design that continues to be forward thinking and unique among two-wheeled vehicles.

When Enrico Piaggio saw the vehicle for the very first time, he remarked “Sembra una Vespa!”, thus the name Vespa. The innovation was a real two-wheeled utility vehicle without the discomfort and noise of a motorcycle. The shape of the steel frame provided the rider protection from the dirt and debris on the road. It was an invention of class and elegance at first glance!

By the end of 1949, the Piaggio company had produced 35,000 Vespas. Also, Italy was getting over its war wounds and heads were turning toward Vespas. In ten years, one million were produced. By the mid-1950s, Vespa was being produced in in other countries as well - Germany, Great Britain, France, Belgium and Spain.

Piaggio Today

The history of Vespa continues today with the new generation of Vespa models (such as the Vespa ET2 and ET4). Vespa is not just a scooter but it is also one of the great icons of Italian ingenuity, style and elegance. With more than 16 million Vespas produced, it unquestionably well known around the world. The company continues to produce and market their popular Vespa scooter line throughout the world. There are almost a hundred different models of Vespas.
The Vespa look has also become marketed under different names, such as Bajaj in India and PGO in Taiwan, due to licensing programs. In the USA, the Cushman Motor Works Company sold Cushman-Vespa scooters in affiliation with Piaggio. However, the companies do not have any official connection with Piaggio. In the late eighties, the company began production of scooters with a modern design under the “Piaggio” nameplate. However, it still continues to produce the older and classic scooters under the Vespa name. Piaggio also has a subsidiary called Gilera that also produces scooters.

For more than five decades, the Piaggio company has fascinated millions of people with the Vespa and intends to continue doing so, even to this very day!  

Established in 1997, Boreem initially focused on wheel based products such as kick board scooters, mini bikes, roller shoes, gas and electric scooters, and sports bikes. Since their inception, Boreem has been providing superior quality products at highly competitive prices. Boreem's commitment to excellence has afforded them major growth and they are now one of the largest distributors of scooters and motor sports bikes in the United States.

With four professional scooter and bike designers Nationwide, Boreem constantly produces innovative designs. Boreem's guiding principle is to provide high-quality, high-value scooters and bikes at highly competitive price backed by outstanding after service.

Currie Electric Scooters

Currie Technologies, Inc. is a developer, manufacturer and distributor or quality, high-performance Electric Powered Personal Transportation products. Currie Technologies was founded in 1998 by Richard Mayer and Dr. Malcolm R. Currie, the former chairman and CEO of Hughes Aircraft and Delco Electronics, on the conviction that electrically driven vehicles will become increasingly important for fundamental environmental and economic reasons, and that new and large international markets will emerge. Currie Technologies hold technology patents on the “Electro-Drive Propulsion System”, a unique drive system that provides superior performance and durability at a reasonable price.

Currie's objectives are to build products that offer cost effective, emissions free alternatives to other forms of transportation for Sport and Recreation. Currie builds Schwinn™, Mongoose™ and GT™ brand of Electric Scooters, under license from Pacific Cycle, LLC. Currie also builds Electric Bicycles under the Currie brand and offers a complete line of electric powered products ranging from entry-level models to high-end, high-performance units and related accessories.

WHY CURRIE ELECTRIC SCOOTERS?

VALUE: Dollar for dollar, Currie scooters and bicycles offer great value for the consumer. Quality construction, top-rated performance and a wide variety of products to choose from make Currie electric scooters and bikes a great overall value.

PERFORMANCE: Out of the box, Currie electric scooters and bicycles out-perform the competition! Superior acceleration, torque and handling characterizes are inherent in the design of all Currie scooters and bikes when compared to other electric powered vehicles at a comparable price.

BUILT-TO-LAST: Every Currie electric scooter and bike is produced to rigorous standards with rugged Hi-Ten Steel frame construction and Oil-Light bearing pivots on the full-suspension models. An all steel battery box is standard on every Currie scooter. Currie products are real vehicles, intended to provide years of service.