Vespa is more than just a scooter. It is one of the great icons of Italian style and elegance, and with 17 million units produced, it is well known throughout the world.

The idea of this vehicle came when Enrico Piaggio decided to leave the aeronautical field in order to address Italy’s urgent need for a modern and affordable means of transport after World War II.

An aeronautical engineer named Corradino D’Ascanio, responsible for the design and construction of the first modern helicopter, was given the job of designing a simple, robust and affordable vehicle. It had to be easy to drive and able to carry a passenger and keep its driver’s clothes clean.

D’Ascanio dreamed up a revolutionary vehicle, using his knowledge of aeronautics. The vehicle was built on a frame with a handlebar gear and with the engine mounted on the rear wheel. The front fork, like an aircraft’s landing gear, enabled easy wheel changing.

From all this the Vespa sprang into being in the beginning of 1946. The first Vespa had a 98cc two-stroke engine that provided 3.5 hp at 4,500 revolutions. It had three gears and reached a speed of 60 kilometres per hour.

Vespa’s success is a phenomenon never repeated. By the end of 1949, 35,000 units had been produced, and within 10 years, 1 million had reached the marketplace.

By the mid 1950s, Vespa was being manufactured in Germany, Britain, France, Belgium, Spain and of course Italy. Only a few years later, production was started in India and Indonesia as well.

Vespa is not, however, just a commercial phenomenon. It has had a significant social impact as well. During Italy’s “Dolce Vita” years, “Vespa” became synonymous with “scooter,” and the important role the Vespa played in Italian society was demonstrated by its appearance in dozens of movies, such as Roman Holiday, symbolizing an era in Italian history.

Piaggio and SKF have had a long relationship, and today SKF is a supplier to the Piaggio Group not only in Italy and Europe but also in India and China.

This year, Vespa is celebrating its 60th anniversary with three new models that revisit and reinterpret vintage design features, particularly those on 1950s and 1960s models.