Vespa History: 80 Years of the Wasp

Vespa has been a household name for 80 years, with nearly 20 million scooters sold worldwide since Enrico Piaggio patented the design on April 23, 1946.

The company’s history began in 1884 when Rinaldo Piaggio founded it in Genoa, Italy, initially producing luxury ships and later moving into rail carriages, trams, and truck bodies.

During World War I, Piaggio began building airplanes and seaplanes, becoming one of Italy’s largest aircraft manufacturers by World War II.

After the war, Enrico Piaggio took charge of rebuilding the company and bet on cheap personal transportation for a country in ruins.

The first Vespa prototype, the MP6, was built in 1945 and was later improved upon by aeronautical engineer Corradino D’Ascanio, who designed a stress-bearing steel body that eliminated the frame and introduced a direct drive system.

The first production Vespa, the 98, was launched in 1946 and was initially met with skepticism by the industry. However, it quickly gained popularity, and by 1948, the company had produced over 19,000 scooters.

The 1950s saw the Vespa go global, with licensed production in several countries, including Germany, Britain, and France.

The company also introduced new models, such as the 125 and 150 GS, which became popular among Vespa enthusiasts.

The 1960s saw the introduction of the Vespa 50, which was designed to meet the new Italian law requiring license plates on two-wheelers over 50cc.

The company also split in 1964, with Enrico Piaggio buying out his brother Armando and taking control of the scooter business.

Over the years, Vespa has become an iconic brand, with its scooters appearing in over 2,000 films and being used by various military forces around the world.

Today, Vespa is still going strong, with production plants in Italy, Vietnam, and India, and a global presence that spans five continents.