April 2021: Vespa celebrates 75 year today!
On the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the patent of the first Vespa, on 23 April 1946, in the Pontedera plant, a Vespa GST 300 celebrates 19 million to date. Here is the 1946-2021 Timeline!
Since the spring of 1946, over 19 million Vespas have been built in around 200 versions and a 300 GTS has come off the production line of the Pontedera plant today to celebrate this milestone.
The Vespa is a phenomenon of custom as well as of the history of two wheels and also well beyond the Italian borders. Today it is marketed in 83 countries on all continents, becoming a symbol of Italian style.
In the mid-2000s, Vespa's annual production stood at around 50,000 units, since then it has been a constant growth that has led it to exceed 100,000 units in 2007 and 200,000 units since 2018 .
The Vespa is produced in three factories: Pontedera , whose production is destined for Europe, America and all Western markets; Vinh Phuc, in Vietnam , which serves the local market and Far East countries, and in India , at the Baramati plant opened in 2012 and from which the Vespas for the Indian and Nepalese markets come out.
Description
Article no.: 2021-04-23
The Vespa Timeline in brief
On 23 April 1946 Piaggio (founded in 1884) filed the patent for “motorcycle with a rational complex of organs and elements with a frame combined with mudguards and bonnet covering all the mechanical parts”. Vespa was born. The motorized scooter with a 98cc 2-stroke single cylinder is built at the Pontedera plant in Tuscany.
1948 . The Vespa 125 cc model is introduced.
1949 . The Italian Vespa Riders Union, which incorporates 30 clubs, is formed and holds its first Congress.
1950 . Vespa starts production in Germany with a licensing agreement with Hoffman-Werke.
1951 . Vespa begins production in the United Kingdom under license from Douglas of Bristol and in France with ACMA of Paris.
1952 . The European Vespa Club was born in Milan to bring together clubs from Italy, France, Germany, Switzerland, Holland and Belgium. Vespa Club members worldwide exceed 50,000. Worldwide, there are more than 10,000 Vespa service stations.
1953 . Vespa 125 is immortalized in William Wyler's Roman Holiday with Gregory Peck and Audrey Hepburn.
1955 . Vespa GS is the most elegant scooter ever built and marks a turning point for Vespa which for the first time exceeds 100 km / h, for the first time adopts 4 gears and is fitted with 10-inch wheels.
1964 . The Vespino is born, or Vespa in the 50cc displacement.
1965 . Vespa sales exceed 3.5 million.
1968 . The “Who Vespa eats apples” campaign revolutionizes the world of advertising.
1968 . Vespa Primavera is one of the longest-lived Vespa models and the medium of the new generations throughout Europe.
1976 . Vespa Primavera 125 - ET3 is the first scooter with electronic ignition.
1978 . Vespa PX is born, in the three "classic" 125, 150 and 200cc displacements. It will be the best-selling model in Vespa history with over 3 million pieces.
1980 . Four Vespa PXs kick off at the Paris-Dakar, the most epic and grueling race in the world. Incredibly one, driven by Marc Simonot, will reach the finish line.
1984 . Vespa PK 125 Automatica, is the first Vespa with automatic transmission.
1988 . Vespa sales exceed 10 million.
1992 . Giorgio Bettinelli , writer and journalist, leaves Rome aboard a Vespa and in March 1993 reaches Saigon. It will be repeated several times: in 1994-95, again on a Vespa, he covered the 36,000 kilometers that separate Alaska from Tierra del Fuego.
In 1995-96, departing from Melbourne in Australia, he arrived in Cape Town and covered more than 52,000 kilometers in twelve months.
In 1997 he made the journey from Chile to Tasmania, through the Americas, Siberia, Europe, Africa, Asia and Oceania, for 144,000 kilometers over three years and eight months, with 90 countries crossed. All this for over 250,000 kilometers on a Vespa.
1996 . The new generation of Vespa is born with the ET4 125cc model. For the first time, Vespa adopts a 4-stroke engine and an automatic gearbox.
1996 . Over 15 million Vespas sold.
1997 . Vespa ET2 (50cc) is launched.
1998 . Restyling and front disc brake for Vespa PX, the best-selling scooter model in the world (over two million units since launch).
2000 . The Vespa is back on the US market.
2003 . The return of the Vespone, the Vespa GT 125 and Vespa GT 200 are born.
2005 . Vespa LX marks the return to the more classic Vespa lines.
2006 . Vespa celebrates 60 years with the spectacular Vespa 60 ° special series which recovers the colors and style of the first Vespas.
2008 . Vespa 300 GTS Super is the most performing and sporty model in history.
2011 . Vespa 946 is the most exclusive model, devoted to aesthetic and technological perfection that evokes in the name the year of birth - 1946 - of the scooter, symbol of Italian elegance.
2013 . The myth of the Vespa Primavera is back, produced in the 50, 125 and 150 displacements, it renews the myth of the Vespino.
2018 . Vespa Elettrica is born, a contemporary work of art with a technological heart, destined to change the landscape of mobility. Completely silent and very easy to drive, entirely produced in Pontedera, it represents the revolutionary and contemporary soul of a brand that has always been ahead of its time, always remaining at the forefront, always faithful to its values of style and technology.
2021 . Vespa reaches 19 million units produced and celebrates 75 years with the special Vespa 75th series that dresses the GTS and Primavera families with new elegance.
On 23 April 1946 Piaggio (founded in 1884) filed the patent for “motorcycle with a rational complex of organs and elements with a frame combined with mudguards and bonnet covering all the mechanical parts”. Vespa was born. The motorized scooter with a 98cc 2-stroke single cylinder is built at the Pontedera plant in Tuscany.
1948 . The Vespa 125 cc model is introduced.
1949 . The Italian Vespa Riders Union, which incorporates 30 clubs, is formed and holds its first Congress.
1950 . Vespa starts production in Germany with a licensing agreement with Hoffman-Werke.
1951 . Vespa begins production in the United Kingdom under license from Douglas of Bristol and in France with ACMA of Paris.
1952 . The European Vespa Club was born in Milan to bring together clubs from Italy, France, Germany, Switzerland, Holland and Belgium. Vespa Club members worldwide exceed 50,000. Worldwide, there are more than 10,000 Vespa service stations.
1953 . Vespa 125 is immortalized in William Wyler's Roman Holiday with Gregory Peck and Audrey Hepburn.
1955 . Vespa GS is the most elegant scooter ever built and marks a turning point for Vespa which for the first time exceeds 100 km / h, for the first time adopts 4 gears and is fitted with 10-inch wheels.
1964 . The Vespino is born, or Vespa in the 50cc displacement.
1965 . Vespa sales exceed 3.5 million.
1968 . The “Who Vespa eats apples” campaign revolutionizes the world of advertising.
1968 . Vespa Primavera is one of the longest-lived Vespa models and the medium of the new generations throughout Europe.
1976 . Vespa Primavera 125 - ET3 is the first scooter with electronic ignition.
1978 . Vespa PX is born, in the three "classic" 125, 150 and 200cc displacements. It will be the best-selling model in Vespa history with over 3 million pieces.
1980 . Four Vespa PXs kick off at the Paris-Dakar, the most epic and grueling race in the world. Incredibly one, driven by Marc Simonot, will reach the finish line.
1984 . Vespa PK 125 Automatica, is the first Vespa with automatic transmission.
1988 . Vespa sales exceed 10 million.
1992 . Giorgio Bettinelli , writer and journalist, leaves Rome aboard a Vespa and in March 1993 reaches Saigon. It will be repeated several times: in 1994-95, again on a Vespa, he covered the 36,000 kilometers that separate Alaska from Tierra del Fuego.
In 1995-96, departing from Melbourne in Australia, he arrived in Cape Town and covered more than 52,000 kilometers in twelve months.
In 1997 he made the journey from Chile to Tasmania, through the Americas, Siberia, Europe, Africa, Asia and Oceania, for 144,000 kilometers over three years and eight months, with 90 countries crossed. All this for over 250,000 kilometers on a Vespa.
1996 . The new generation of Vespa is born with the ET4 125cc model. For the first time, Vespa adopts a 4-stroke engine and an automatic gearbox.
1996 . Over 15 million Vespas sold.
1997 . Vespa ET2 (50cc) is launched.
1998 . Restyling and front disc brake for Vespa PX, the best-selling scooter model in the world (over two million units since launch).
2000 . The Vespa is back on the US market.
2003 . The return of the Vespone, the Vespa GT 125 and Vespa GT 200 are born.
2005 . Vespa LX marks the return to the more classic Vespa lines.
2006 . Vespa celebrates 60 years with the spectacular Vespa 60 ° special series which recovers the colors and style of the first Vespas.
2008 . Vespa 300 GTS Super is the most performing and sporty model in history.
2011 . Vespa 946 is the most exclusive model, devoted to aesthetic and technological perfection that evokes in the name the year of birth - 1946 - of the scooter, symbol of Italian elegance.
2013 . The myth of the Vespa Primavera is back, produced in the 50, 125 and 150 displacements, it renews the myth of the Vespino.
2018 . Vespa Elettrica is born, a contemporary work of art with a technological heart, destined to change the landscape of mobility. Completely silent and very easy to drive, entirely produced in Pontedera, it represents the revolutionary and contemporary soul of a brand that has always been ahead of its time, always remaining at the forefront, always faithful to its values of style and technology.
2021 . Vespa reaches 19 million units produced and celebrates 75 years with the special Vespa 75th series that dresses the GTS and Primavera families with new elegance.