History
A dream Made in Italy
Behind every Piaggio vehicle is the story of a great adventure that started way back in Sestri Ponente, Genova, in 1884 when young Rinaldo Piaggio took over his father’s business and converted it into a marine fit out company. Little did he know that within a few years Piaggio & Co would go on to conquer the skies, the roads and the hearts of all of Italy.
The path towards innovation
It is the beginning of the twentieth century and Italian industry is thriving. Piaggio’s cabinetmakers are kept busy supplying furniture for luxurious Italian and foreign ships but Rinaldo senses that the sector offers limited opportunity for growth. He decides to expand into the rail sector, building and repairing carriages. This proves to be an important choice as it enables him to create a team of outstanding engineers and repair technicians.
From ground to sky
The advent of the First World War opens up a new frontier: aviation. As early as 1915, Piaggio starts repairing and building seaplanes, going on to acquire a Pisa-based aviation company in 1917. This move not only helps Piaggio avoid the postwar crisis but also means it is in a position to take over the Pegna-Bonmartini business, complete with its workforce.
Among the employees it inherits is Giovanni Pegna, an extraordinarily talented aeronautical designer and engineer. Before long he comes up with the P2 (Piaggio 2) monoplane fighter and its subsequent P7 evolution, the Piaggio racing seaplane and the four-engine P108 which will be the last great Italian-built plane before the Second World War.
The Pontedera factory
The manufacturing success convinces Rinaldo to branch out yet again and in 1924 he acquires the Pontedera-based Costruzione Meccaniche Nazionali (National Mechanic Construction). This becomes an important factory for the company, where it is able to build its own aircraft engines and, later on, other types of vehicles.
Engineers and inventors
The recession of the Thirties fails to slow Piaggio down as it continues to take on new talents in its R&D department in the form of Giovanni Pegna, Giovanni Gabrielli, Giovanni Casiraghi and Corradino d'Ascanio. The latter immediately makes his mark in 1930 when, together with other inventors, he produces one of the world’s first helicopter prototypes. From then on, his genius will be forever linked to Piaggio’s story with the creation of a host of vehicles, including the PD1 and PD2 (Piaggio-d’Ascanio) helicopters.
From Paperino to Vespa
The year is 1944 and the end of World War II is just around the corner. With an eye to the boom that will surely come as the country rebuilds itself, Enrico Piaggio commissions a vehicle that will allow individuals to get around on their own. The first attempt is a scooter designed by Renzo Spolti with a load-bearing frame. The MP (Moto Piaggio), in its MP1 and MP5 iterations, was nicknamed Paperino. Unconvinced, Enrico asks Corradino d’Ascanio to relook at the design. And so it is that in 1945 the MP6 prototype, with all sorts of aviation-derived innovations, is produced. A year later sees the start of production of the two-wheeler that will go on to make history: the Vespa 98.
The new frontier is green
When it comes to respecting nature and the environment, Piaggio has long been an innovator, with research into a scooter with an electric motor starting as far back as 1973. Just two years later, Piaggio produces its first electric Ape. From the three-wheeled Ape, Piaggio moves on to the four-wheeled Porter and then in 1996 the Liberty bursts onto the scene, creating the “high wheel” phenomenon. Then comes the Piaggio MP3, the world’s first – and most successful – three-wheeled scooter.
The love for two wheels continues to grow
During the Sixties, popularity continues to increase, along with the number of vehicles produced. 1967 sees the introduction of the Ciao, a scooter closely resembling a bicycle designed by d’Ascanio 12 years earlier. It will remain in production, almost unaltered, until 2006. There is also the acquisition of Gilera in 1969 and with this, Piaggio’s standing as the benchmark in the motorbike sector is sealed.
Towards a more sustainable future
As part of its commitment to emission reduction, Piaggio creates the MP3 Hybrid, a three-wheel scooter with combustion engine and electric battery combination. Its variety of riding modes offer different types of interaction between the two units to optimise performance and range. Last, but not least, Piaggio continues its work with slowing down emissions with the introduction of the Vespa Elettrica. With a riding range of 100 km and requiring just 4 hours to fully charge, it is completely silent, respects the environment and delivers a performance that beats that of a traditional 50 cc scooter.