Enrico Piaggio - Vespa(2019) Apr 2026

Enrico Piaggio's vision and perseverance transformed Piaggio & C. into a thriving company, with Vespa at its core. He continued to innovate and expand the Vespa line, introducing new models and features.

The name "Vespa" was born from Enrico's suggestion. It is an acronym for "Veloce" (fast) and "Scooter Piaggio" (Piaggio scooter). The term "Vespa" also translates to "wasp" in Italian, reflecting the scooter's agile and nimble nature.

Enrico Piaggio's inspiration for Vespa came from an unexpected source: a paperclip. During a meeting with his team, he sketched a simple, minimalist design for a scooter, using a paperclip as a makeshift frame. The paperclip's curves and lines influenced the Vespa's iconic shape.

In 1946, Enrico Piaggio, the son of Italian industrialist Ruggiero Piaggio, faced a daunting challenge. His family's company, Piaggio & C., was struggling to recover from the devastation of World War II. The company's factory in Pontedera, Italy, had been bombed, and its workforce was dwindling.

As Enrico Piaggio would have wanted, Vespa continues to thrive, an enduring symbol of Italian design, innovation, and the joy of the open road.

Sadly, Enrico Piaggio passed away on October 16, 1960, at the age of 52. His legacy, however, lives on through Vespa, an iconic brand that continues to inspire generations of scooter enthusiasts and commuters worldwide.

On April 23, 1948, Vespa was officially launched at the Turin Motor Show. The scooter was an instant success, thanks to its innovative design, ease of use, and affordability. The initial model, Vespa 98, was priced at 125,000 lire, approximately $275 USD at the time.

In 1946, Enrico Piaggio and his team began working on a prototype, which they called MP6. This early version featured a 98cc engine, a manual transmission, and a top speed of about 40 km/h (25 mph). Although primitive, the MP6 was the foundation for the first Vespa scooter.