Description
Piaggio entered the transportation business in the late 1800s by initially producing locomotives. In the 21st century, they are best known for their innovative scooters and motorcycle brands which include Vespa, Moto Guzzi, Derbi, Aprilia, and the eponymous Piaggio.
WWII drove many technological innovations in the transportation sector. One of the tiniest wheeled vehicles that debuted during the war was the American Cushman scooter. The Piaggio firm was quick to see the merits of such an agile and inexpensive vehicle to navigate the warn-torn Italian countryside. In 1946, Piaggio introduced the VESPA, which in Italian translates to “wasp’. Apparently, when the Vespa was initially shown to the company founder, the first word he used to describe the new two-wheeled scooter was “wasp”.
Happily, the Vespa did not sting but went on to become a global icon for Piaggio. With the debut of the film “Roman Holiday”, the Vespa shared a starring role with Gregory Peck and Audrey Hepburn as the threesome cruised about Roma sans souci. This helped cement global demand and recognition for the lithesome scooter which was easy to care for, inexpensive to operate, and designed in such a way that ladies could easily board the bike wearing skirts.