Piaggio Scooter: Workshop Manuals & Wiring Diagrams, Parts Catalogs

Piaggio & C. SpA is an Italian engineering company, a well-known manufacturer of scooters and motorcycles (the largest in Europe, controls 40 percent of the market). Headquarters - in the city of Pontedera (province of Pisa, Tuscany).

Piaggio was founded by Rinaldo Piaggio in 1884. It produced ships, aircraft and industrial equipment. In the postwar years, Enrico Piaggio, the son of the founder of the company, decided to concentrate on the production of the necessary light motorcycles needed in a poor country recovering from the war. The company has gained fame since 1946 when it began production of Vespa scooters.

After the death of Enrico Piaggio, in 1965, control over the company was given to the Agnelli family, owners of the Fiat concern. In 1964, the aviation division of the company became a separate company IAM Rinaldo Piaggio (now - Piaggio Aero). In the late 1960s, the concern acquired the well-known motorcycle company Gilera, and the model range was replenished with 50 cc mopeds.

By the 2000s, Piaggio's financial situation had become quite unenviable. In 1999, control of the company was transferred to the Morgan Grenfell fund, the London branch of Deutsche Bank. In 2003, most of the company was sold to IMMSI, a Milan investment company, which was owned by a well-known Italian businessman Roberto Colananino, who had previously led Olivetti and Telecom Italia. Under Kolaninino’s management, the company emerged from the crisis and began to generate profit. In 2006, Piaggio became a public company whose shares are traded on the Milan Stock Exchange.

Piaggio Liberty 50