The Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi on 10 June 2014 visited the Piaggio Group’s Vietnamese offices and industrial facility in Vinh Phuc, an industry park not far from Hanoi international airport.
Premier Matteo Renzi, accompanied by the Italian Ambassador to Vietnam, Lorenzo Angeloni, was welcomed by Piaggio Group Chairman and CEO Roberto Colaninno and by Group Deputy Chairman Matteo Colaninno.

“I take great pride in the visit of the Italian Prime Minister to our Vietnamese production facility,” said Roberto Colaninno. “This is the most important possible mark of recognition for all the Italian engineers and managers who, since 2008, have worked on the Piaggio Vietnam project, and for all the Vietnamese men and women who work with us on our production operations and contribute to the commercial success of an Italian symbol like the Vespa. We began with a greenfield project and in less than five years have already produced and sold more than four hundred thousand vehicles.”
Ever since Immsi acquired control of Piaggio the end of 2003, the Piaggio Group has pursued an international development strategy. “Ahead of many other Western manufacturers, the Piaggio Group has followed a global expansion strategy,” Colaninno observed. “We have not implemented a delocation strategy; on the contrary, as we strengthened our leadership position on the European market with our production operations in Italy, we decided to begin manufacturing on the Asian markets, which, increasingly, in terms of volumes absorb almost all worldwide production of motorised two-wheelers.”

PIAGGIO GROUP’S THIRD-LARGET PRODUCTION OPERATION
With approximately 850 employees, Piaggio Vietnam is the Piaggio Group’s third-largest production operation, after Pontedera in the Italian province of Pisa, and Baramati (in the State of Maharashtra, the production site of its Indian arm, Piaggio Vehicles Private Ltd.). Of the total worldwide workforce of 7,700 employees (as at May 2014), most Piaggio Group employees – more than 4,000 – are based in Europe, including 3,800 in Italy, of whom approximately 3,000 at the head office and factory in Pontedera. The Piaggio Group also has a factory in China (in Foshan, Guangdong province), controlled through equal 45% shares in a joint venture with the Chinese group Zongshen.

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Work on the Vietnam project began in 2007. Construction of the factory commenced in January 2008 and was completed in October the same year. In June 2009, the commercial launch took place of the first Vespa produced in the Vietnamese factory. Today, Piaggio Vietnam produces the Vespa Primavera and Vespa Sprint models launched around the world between the end of 2013 and early 2014, and the Piaggio Liberty high-wheel scooter, also a best seller in its category in Europe. The Piaggio Vietnam production facility currently covers an area of 190,000 m2, including buildings on 53,000 m2, more than double the initial surface area, and includes the Engine Factory, which opened two years ago.
Since the start-up of local operations, to date (end of May 2014), more than 410,000 two-wheelers have been manufactured by Piaggio Vietnam – including 220,000 Vespa scooters – for sale on all the main markets in South East Asia and Asia Pacific: Vietnam, Indonesia, Japan, Thailand, Singapore, Taiwan, Malaysia, South Korea, Philippines, Cambodia, Hong Kong, People’s Republic of China, Australia, New Zealand.
In 2013, of the approximately 560,000 vehicles sold worldwide by the Piaggio Group, more than 105,000 vehicles were sold in the Asia Pacific region (not including India), for revenues of over 193 million euro.

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OPERATIONS IN VIETNAM AND ASIA PACIFIC
There are currently 87 Piaggio Group sales outlets in Vietnam, and 328 in the Asia Pacific area as a whole. In the People’s Republic of China, in 2014 the Piaggio Group will begin direct sales of Vespa and Moto Guzzi scooters and motorcycles, through a wholly owned company operating side by side with the Foshan joint venture. Distribution contracts have already been finalised for the first two important dealerships in China.
In the Asia Pacific region, the Piaggio Group operates through direct subsidiaries not only in Vietnam, but also in Indonesia, Singapore and Japan. Piaggio Vietnam’s current product range includes – in addition to the Vespa Primavera and Sprint, the very latest arrivals, launched in parallel with the versions produced in Pontedera for Western markets – the Vespa LX and the Piaggio Liberty, Fly and Zip scooters in 100, 125 and 150cc displacements. All the models are equipped with latest-generation 4-stroke engines offering a sharp reduction in fuel consumption and emissions. The availability of cutting-edge engines in terms of emissions, consumption and reliability is a key element in the premium strategy implemented by the Piaggio Group throughout the region, which has established the Vespa as a premium product, thanks to its strong Italian content and the brand’s global reputation.
Engine production for Piaggio Vietnam vehicles was the focus of the very important second phase in the expansion of the Piaggio industrial complex in Vinh Phuc, which from 2010-2012 reached its current total surface area of 190,000 m2. The new Engine Factory began operations in mid-2012, flanked by the aluminium machining shop. Production capacity and flexibility were also enhanced for vehicle construction, with the installation of the third assembly line, and in 2013 work was completed on the vehicle test track and the expansion of the R&D and Testing units.

THE PIAGGIO GROUP GLOBALISATION STRATEGY
Piaggio’s industrial operations in Vietnam are a cornerstone of the Group’s international strategies. Over the last ten years, the Piaggio Group has transformed itself from a scooter manufacturer closely linked to the Italian market and with sales operations in Western Europe into Europe’s leading two-wheeler manufacturer, with a consolidated share of approximately 18% of the overall market and a 26% share of the scooter segment, and into a global player in two-wheelers and three- and four-wheel light commercial vehicles. At the end of 2004, with the acquisition of the Aprilia and Moto Guzzi motorcycle manufacturers, the Group’s historic headquarters and primary manufacturing site in Pontedera were joined by the Aprilia and Moto Guzzi head offices and factories in, respectively, Noale-Scorzè (Venice) and Mandello del Lario (Lecco).
Meanwhile, the Piaggio Group was building a presence in Vietnam to operate across the ASEAN market, and rapidly expanding its manufacturing and sales activities in India through a wholly owned subsidiary, which today produces three- and four-wheel commercial vehicles, engines and scooters. In China, the Piaggio Group and the Zongshen Group have equal 45% shares in a joint venture in Foshan, in Guangdong province, for the production and sale of motorcycles and scooters.
On Western markets, volumes have been falling in absolute terms for many years, yet the region is still of fundamental importance in terms of average product value. The Piaggio Group has a consolidated leadership position on the European two-wheeler market and has established a solid presence in the Americas, with premium products and brands (Vespa is the leading brand on the US scooter market), and, more recently, through entry into the value-for-money low-displacement two-wheeler segment, notably in South America.
In the USA, the Piaggio Group operates through a sales subsidiary in New York, and through the Piaggio Group Advanced Design Centre in Pasadena, California, whose advanced research work on technology and style focuses specifically on new mobility requirements and on the reduction of energy consumption and emissions.
The Piaggio Group international growth strategy pursued to date has been based not on production delocation (the 2- 3- and 4-wheel vehicles marketed in Western countries are manufactured in the Group’s Italian factories), but on action to strengthen the Group’s commercial positioning around the world, in a context of particularly intense competitive pressures. This is achieved by leveraging and investing in the constant enhancement of key assets: distinctive, internationally famous brands; extensive sales networks on core markets; R&D expertise geared to innovation, safety and eco-sustainability; an international management team able to develop the Group’s global vision and interact with local players; a strong international presence, with local operations for all core processes from marketing and R&D to production and procurement.

The streets of Paris provided the stage for the debut of the latest version of the world’s most famous three-wheel scooter, a best seller that has shipped 150,000 vehicles to date. The Mp3 has enjoyed an extraordinary success in the French capital since its arrival in 2006. So Paris was the natural choice of test ground for the international press launch of the new generation of Mp3 scooters.
Piaggio Mp3 created a completely new market segment and rewrote the rulebook on urban mobility, introducing levels of safety and riding pleasure never before seen. The success of the Piaggio Mp3 is partly due to the exclusive Piaggio independent and tilting front wheel technology that the leading European Group was the first to develop and distribute in order to combine automotive type safety with practicality, user-friendliness and fun typical of the two-wheeled world. The Piaggio Mp3, rightfully considered the link between the car and scooter worlds, is now completely revamped with a brand new sleek and sporty design, new technical specifications and an exceptional control electronics package, which further increases its safety and riding pleasure characteristics.

TWO VERSIONS: SPORT E BUSINESS



The new Piaggio Mp3 is available in the Sport and Business versions and it is the first three-wheeled vehicle in the world to boast an antilock braking system (ABS) integrated with ASR traction control (Acceleration Slip Regulation), a Piaggio Group exclusive and technological first. The diameter of the front wheels has been increased, going from 12 to 13 inches, as has the diameter of the brake discs in order to guarantee unparalleled road holding, all to the advantage of safety. The new frame optimises stability at high speeds. The 50 litres capacity of the new helmet compartment, able to hold two flip up helmets, imply the possibility of travelling beyond the metropolitan boundaries, even with a passenger riding pillion, who will appreciate the larger seating space and the convenient retractable footrests.

The new Piaggio Mp3 has been radically revamped in terms of aesthetics: the work done by the Piaggio Style Centre benefits not only the shapes, modern and sleek, but also painstaking attention to the finishes, down to the tiniest detail, including the new wheel rims, the LED light clusters and the extremely complete dashboard, just to name a few. The elegance of the Piaggio Mp3 500 Business is highlighted by the two available colour schemes: Bianco (White) Iceberg and Nero (Black) Universo, whereas the Mp3 Sport comes in three colour schemes: Nero (Black) Carbonio, Argento (Silver) Cometa and Blu (Blue) Laguna.
The 500cc engine also underwent in depth changes to the timing, intake, exhaust and automatic transmission, all aimed at making the already excellent power (Piaggio Mp3 500 is the most powerful three-wheeled scooter in its category) and the generous torque even more usable, cutting down on noise and reducing fuel consumption. Thanks to the use of the electronic Ride-by-Wire accelerator extremely smooth acceleration was achieved, as well as the addition of an Eco engine map that can be easily selected by the rider in order to guarantee even lower fuel consumption.

EXCLUSIVE PIAGGIO MULTIMEDIA PLATFORM SYSTEM

Another top of the line Piaggio exclusive is the Piaggio Multimedia Platform, a system that allows a smartphone to be connected to the on board electronic system, transforming it into a multi-functional tool, an actual computer capable of simultaneously displaying information such as speedometer and tachometer data, but also engine power and torque, longitudinal acceleration, instant and average fuel consumption, average speed, battery voltage and much more. Using the smartphone connected to the Piaggio Multimedia Platform you can also view maps and routes, as well as identifying points of interest such as petrol stations and service centres and monitoring the condition of your tyres.

The new versions of the Vespa GTS have made their debut on the roads of the wonderful Mugello hills, in a setting that fascinated the members of the international press attending the launch. Test rides down cypress-lined avenues, through charming medieval villages, in the luxuriant green of the Tuscan spring countryside. The great Vespa’s riding features were enhanced by the advanced new electronic ABS brake system and the exclusive electronic ASR traction control system developed by the Piaggio Group. Available throughout Europe, the new Vespa GTS – and the sports version, GTS Super – is the largest, most powerful and technologically advanced Vespa ever produced.
The new Vespa GTS and Vespa GTS Super make their début, equipped with ASR traction control and ABS braking, cutting-edge electronic systems for active safety. These two new models are made in the spirit of the highest safety standards and even greater comfort thanks to the newly designed front suspension and new generation gadgets such as the Vespa Multimedia Platform, conceived to connect your Smartphone to your Vespa.
Large, convenient, comfortable, extraordinarily protective, the Vespa GTS - along with the sporty GTS Super version - combines its elegantly urban and city spirit with the travel and tourism vocation. Vespa therefore reaffirms its technological cutting-edge and introduces one of the most modern, advanced and safest vehicles in the world.

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NEW SAFETY FEATURES. EVEN MORE COMFORT
Vespa GTS provides a powerful and safe two-channel ABS braking system. Each wheel is fitted with a revolution detection system which instantly reads speed and deceleration. The sensors dialogue with a 2-channel control unit which activates the ABS system if one of the two wheels decelerates abruptly with respect to the vehicle, avoiding locking and ensuring stability. The dual disc active braking system and the large 12” wheels contribute to safety.
The ASR traction control system uses the electronics and the ABS sensors to compare the rotation speed of the two wheels. When the sensors detect excessive speed on the rear wheel compared to the front, the ECU intervenes to prevent slipping and avoid losing control of the vehicle. While still maintaining the classic single arm suspension on the front, the new Vespa GTS and Vespa GTS Super range adopts a completely redesigned system (ESS) capable of cutting sliding friction in half, increasing riding comfort.
The new saddle on the Vespa GTS and Vespa GTS Super provides superior comfort thanks to the new padding and different covering. The Vespa GTS Super saddle also provides a white line finishing that runs along the edge, another feature which is clearly reminiscent of the traditional Vespa sporty saddles. The new GTS Super, on the other hand, also has a different instrument panel, backlit in red, and black wheel rims, with the front suspension characterised by a red spring.

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CUTTING-EDGE TECHNOLOGY
All models in the new Vespa GTS and Vespa GTS Super range come standard with a USB port located in the leg shield back plate compartment, while the front turn indicators contain a series of LEDs that act as daylight running lights. The trapezoid-shaped digital instrumentation is completely new.
The new Vespa GTS and Vespa GTS Super range add compatibility with the Vespa Multimedia Platform (VMP), the innovative multimedia platform which, when a Smartphone is connected to the on board electronic system VMP, transforms it into a real and sophisticated computer which is capable of providing the rider with various information both on the condition of the vehicle and on the route travelled. This allows the rider to use the Smartphone's touchscreen to keep constant tabs on all riding parameters and to handle both city traffic and longer trips in complete safety.
Vespa GTS and Vespa GTS Super are available with a 300 cc, single cylinder 4-stroke, 4 valve, liquid cooled with electronic injection engine capable of providing maximum power of 22 HP. These are values which guarantee the quick throttle response and extremely brilliant performance, making the new large body Vespas ideal vehicles both in city traffic and for touring, even at long range, in total comfort, whether alone or with a passenger. Vespa GTS Super is also available with a 125 cc engine, ideal for riders with only a category B driver's license.
Vespa GTS 300 is available in Nero (Black) Vulcano, Blu (Blue) Midnight and Grigio (Grey) Dolomiti colour schemes. Vespa GTS Super 125 and 300 are available in Nero (Black) Lucido, Montebianco (White), Rosso (Red) Dragon and Blu (Blue) Gaiola.

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“LIVING DONOR” PROCEDURE ON A 10-YEAR-OLD GIRL AT THE NATIONAL HOSPITAL FOR PAEDIATRICS IN HANOI. THE PATIENT IS RECOVERING WELL



The story was given prominent coverage in the international media. And what a heartening story it is: a successful kidney transplant, from a living donor, for a 10-year-old Vietnamese girl, at the National Hospital for Paediatrics (NHP) in Hanoi, Vietnam.
The operation was performed by a team of specialists from Rome’s Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital together with local medical staff, as part of the activities organised under the cooperation project between the Hanoi hospital and the Bambino Gesù, sponsored by the Piaggio Group through the Vespa for Children charity. The transplant took place on 25 March, and the little patient is recovering well.
FROM ROME TO HANOI: A WINNING PROJECT
Launched in early 2013, the project set up in Hanoi by the Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital with funding from Vespa for Children makes treatment possible for Vietnamese children with complex urological pathologies – such as urogenital malformations and renal failure – who need surgery, dialysis and kidney transplants. A new Bambino Gesù department has been created at the Hanoi hospital, with 30 in-patient beds, special clinics and a specially equipped room for children recovering from transplants. Since January 2013, more than 1,000 children with urogenital malformations have undergone surgery.
In their mission in March 2014, the Bambino Gesù surgeons performed operations on another 20 children with serious urological problems and selected four small patients with renal failure as candidates for a kidney transplant. Two of the operations will take place in September.

GIUSEPPE PROFITI: DEDICATION AND EXPERTISE
"Thanks to the dedication and expertise of our specialists, we have achieved a vitally important goal," said the President of the Bambino Gesù, Giuseppe Profiti, at a meeting in Vietnam with the Apostolic Nuncio, Monsignor Leopoldo Girelli, the Italian Ambassador, Lorenzo Angeloni, and local authorities. "A successful paediatric kidney transplant from a living donor that saves a young life is a huge advance in the medical and scientific partnership between the Bambino Gesù and the National Hospital for Paediatrics in Hanoi. Thanks to the support of the Piaggio Group, the project to treat complex urological conditions in Vietnamese children is an important response to local healthcare needs, enabling us to raise the quality of life for a growing proportion of the population."

LORENZO BORGHESE: PARTICIPATION AND HOPE
Lorenzo Borghese, director of international activities at the Bambino Gesù, added: "This is the second year of the Project in Hanoi, which began in January 2013, and has achieved important success in terms of the quality of treatment and the number of children treated. As always, the initiative is driven by the strength of our professional ties and friendship with our Vietnamese colleagues and the authorities, who have fully embraced cooperation with our hospital. In just 15 months, we have exceeded all the targets set out in the initial Project description, examining more than 12,000 children and conducting surgery on more than 900. Training for the Vietnamese doctors in Rome and Vietnam has been our primary objective.
We hope that by January 2015, the doctors in Hanoi will have acquired ever greater expertise in treating complex urological pathologies and that kidney transplants, developed together with us, will be more readily available to the large numbers of children hoping for a better quality of life without the burden of dialysis.
This is a wonderful experience, in which we have all shared our skills to help those less fortunate than ourselves."

Among the initiatives marking the centenary of the EICMA World Motorcycling Exhibition, 1914-2014, an international study on the two-wheeler sector was presented in Milan on 29 April. The event was part of the first “Worldwide 2 Wheels Forum”, a summit in Milan where the leading names in the two-wheeler industry (bicycles and motorcycles) assembled to examine the current situation with representatives from the international institutions.

PROTAGONISTS.
Joining the industry leaders (the Piaggio Group was represented by Leo Francesco Mercanti, Head of Two-Wheeler Marketing) were: Carlo Pettinelli (Director General for sustainability growth and UE 2020, DG Business and Industry, European Commission); Maurizio Lupi (Italy’s Minister for Infrastructure and Transport); Roberto Maroni (Chairman of the Lombardy Regional Authority); Marco Fortis (Vice President of the Edison foundation and head of Economic Studies at Edison); Adjiedj Bakas (sociologist and trend watcher); Luca Colombo (Country Manager of Facebook Italia); Julien Flageul (Mobility representative for the City of Paris); Carlo Fidanza (Euro MP, Rapporteur on the Clean Power for Transport Directive); Angel López (Electromobility Project manager for the city of Barcelona); Pier Francesco Maran (head of the mobility department, City of Milan); Corrado Capelli (President of Confindustria ANCMA); Antonello Montante (President of EICMA).

“Celebrating EICMA’s centenary with this global forum means that the two-wheeler industry as a whole wants to share its tools for building the future, and considers growth and development to be the only way ahead,” said EICMA President Antonello Montante. “Individual mobility is the inalienable right of every individual. And consequently the two-wheeler, whether pedal- or motor-powered, is a sustainable solution and an opportunity to be encouraged.”

INTERNATIONAL STUDY ON THE VALUE OF TWO WHEELS.
One of the highlights of the Forum was the presentation of the first international survey on “The value of two wheels” (“Industry, market, mobility”), conducted in cooperation with The European House Ambrosetti, which examines all the economic and social issues of the world two-wheeler sector, with a special focus on Europe and Italy. The results of this original survey provide the foundation for future growth and development.

PRODUCTION PERFORMANCE WORLDWIDE, IN EUROPE AND IN ITALY.
Among the figures highlighted by the survey commissioned by EICMA, in the last 5 years world production of motorised two-wheelers (M2W) rose by 39% in terms of units. The western nations reported a production decline of 59% (-54% in Europe). Although Italy reported a fall of 52%, it is still the leading M2W producer.

VEHICLES ON THE ROAD AND NEW REGISTRATIONS.
Looking ahead, EICMA expects sales growth to be driven by the Asian nations and the emerging economies. There are approximately 32 million mopeds and motorcycles on European roads, of which 8.6 million in Italy alone. France was the leading country for M2W registrations in 2013, thanks to the steady performance of moped sales. Italian registrations fell by 67% from 2007 to 2013, in part as a result of the economic crisis, which caused the rotation rate in registered vehicles to plummet.

INDUSTRIAL VALUE.
In 2012, the value of industrial two-wheeler production in the EU was 10.7 billion euro. The two-wheeler sector provides jobs for more than 123,000 people, of which more than 53,500 people in Italy.

MARKET VALUE.
EU two-wheeler sales totalled almost 13 billion euro in 2013. In Italy, two-wheeler shipments were worth more than one billion euro in 2013. The two-wheeler segment produces annual tax revenue totalling approximately 3.6 billion euro.

SUSTAINABLE MOBILITY.
Two-wheelers are the solution for sustainable mobility. In Italy, the two-wheeler value connected with time-saving is estimated at 2.5 billion euro/year. This amount translated into “days saved” thanks to the existence of two-wheelers is 72.8 million days. Use of two-wheelers in Italy delivers an annual reduction in CO2 emissions of 2.1 million metric tons.
The world industry leaders at the forum declared their support for “The commitment to sustainable mobility”.

RECOVERING ENTHUSIASM AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE.
The Worldwide 2 Wheels Forum also included the presentation of the survey conducted by Sevendots, which examines ways of bringing motorised two-wheelers to a younger target. A number of proposals and initiatives were illustrated, forming a set of useful tools to reverse the current trend. Carefully mixed, these tools can catalyse a renewal of passion for motorised two-wheelers among a target of vital importance for the future solidity of the Italian and global motorcycle system.

THE FIRST WORLD FORUM.
The centenary of EICMA, the world’s most important and oldest two-wheeler exhibition, was marked with an exclusive event. The Forum highlighted new aspects of the industry by bringing together for the first time in the history of the two-wheeler senior managers from the leading international players and representatives from the political community, for a constructive debate on the new concept of sustainable mobility. The meeting promoted consensus on the main points of an industry commitment to the future.

(Source: eicma.it)

It has to be said that the passion for the Vespa of Rinaldo Armenia, a 51-year-old craftsman from Modica (in the Sicilian province of Ragusa), is as solid as a rock. The rock he used to create a sculpture of his 1981 Vespa PX 125 scooter.
A burning passion fuels motivation, dedication and commitment, generating outstanding results. Rinaldo Armenia tells Wide more: “My passion for the Vespa began when I was a youngster. When I was 14, I bought a Vespa 50, which I kept for about four years. A few years ago I decided to buy another Vespa: the PX 125 from 1981 I still have today, which re-awakened that desire for freedom I experienced when I was a lad.” It was that thrilling feeling that led Rinaldo Armenia to create a sculpture that would represent “his” PX 125 at its best, a tribute, a homage to an object that restored a sensation he had experienced as a young man, which had probably dulled in later years, but had certainly never disappeared.
“Well, I’ve been a Vesparado since I was a boy; I’ve always had a passion for the Vespa, to the point where I wanted to create one in stone, because I’m a craftsman by profession,” adds Rinaldo.
So the skilful hands of the Sicilian sculptor began working on the four tons of Tunisian stone, smoothing the sharp edges and modelling the forms until he had made a faithful representation of his beloved PX. Six hundred hours with a chisel, spread over a total period of eight months, underline the commitment to the creation of an authentic work of art, unique of its kind.

As always in Vespa tradition, the new GTS range also has a wide range of accessories so you can personalise your vehicle and increase comfort and functionality.

FUNCTIONALITY AND AESTHETICS
The top box, large enough for a flip up helmet, is painted to match the body and fitted with a padded backrest to optimise passenger comfort. The top box is made for use on the chromium mounting, standard on the Vespa GTS and available for purchase as an accessory for the sportier GTS Sport.
The front and rear chromium plated luggage racks are some of the most popular accessories that strongly denote the personality and long standing Vespa traveller tradition. And speaking of chromium plated accessories, let's not forget the side kit which guarantees maximum protection for your Vespa and ensures a bold aesthetic personalisation. On board protection is guaranteed by the windshield in impact resistant, chip resistant metacrylate and the high quality clear top fairing with its compact and sporty lines. The leg cover made of thermal material, easy to install, also guarantees riding comfort in any season of the year. The set of accessories is completed by the mechanical anti-theft system, the electronic anti-theft system, the top box internal bag, the luggage rack straps, and the elegant “Country & Leisure” plaid.

ON BOARD TECHNOLOGY: VESPA MULTIMEDIA PLATFORM
One of the most characteristic and highest technology accessories is the Vespa Multimedia Platform which allows the rider to place his or her smartphone in communication with the Vespa GTS.
Using a dedicated App the Smartphone can display all the vehicle status information (through the on board diagnostics), as well as riding and travel information. This means that VMP technology allows the rider to optimise vehicle use when riding in city and country traffic, enhancing the travel experience.

NEW VESPA VISOR 2.0 HELMETS
Specifically made to be housed in the spacious helmet compartment of the Vespa GTS, the Visor 2.0 helmets combine safety, practicality, style and an attractive design. All of the Vespa Visor helmets are "Made in Italy", boast interiors lined with a 3D breathable fabric and are available in five sizes in two different shell dimensions. The shells are colour coded to match the vehicle body in order to provide maximum aesthetic consistency.

THE VESPA LIFESTYLE
Vespa is the most well-known and beloved two-wheeled vehicle in the world. It is a legend built on technological firsts and elegance which has over time transformed it into the emblem of a lifestyle associated with youth and freedom. The Vespa GTS rider can choose from a vast range of high quality garments that go from convenient “light” padded vests, ideal for city riding, to the more traditional high quality genuine leather jackets. The Vespa clothing line is completed with sweatshirts, T-shirts and wind breakers, garments suited for any occasion. The Vespa range is not lacking for important accessories such as Vespa Black and Two-tone Sunglasses.

All Vespa brand accessories and style compliments are available online. In fact, at VESPA.COM, the point of reference for Vespa fans all over the world, the display windows of the Vespa Store are open, a web space that makes all of the Vespa lifestyle collections available to enthusiasts. At Vespa Store the vast range of garments, gift items and accessories, conceived and designed based on the most classic Vespa iconography, is available to anyone who wants to live in Vespa style, dress with informal elegance and surround themselves with high quality items that are reminiscent of timeless shapes.

Una bella storia arriva dalla Grecia, con protagonisti Dimitris Bitivanos, suo padre e la Vespa di famiglia: uno scooter longevo, con “soli” 40 anni di vita, tornata a splendere dopo un accurato restauro.
RaccA charming story from Greece involves Dimitris Bitivanos, his father and the family Vespa: a hardy scooter “just” 40 years old, which has been returned to mint condition after a painstaking restoration. Dimitris tells the story in the video posted on YouTube: “My father bought this Vespa (a Sprint Veloce 150cc) brand new in 1974. It was his first motor vehicle. Over the years, he maintained it in perfect condition, and it was my first vehicle too: I had many happy times riding the Vespa. More recently, however, it was abandoned in the garage, gathering dust and rust. Then I decided to give it a makeover and return it to the splendid two-wheeler I rode when I was a teenager. I made the decision on a sunny day, 6 April 2010, and wondered, what is more important? The end result of the restoration or the actual process?”
It took Dimitris three and a half years of work to achieve his dream. When the scooter was ready, with the help of his friends, he organised a big surprise for his father, presenting him with the restored Vespa in a carefully wrapped package. His astonished dad was almost speechless: then he kicked the starter for a ride down the lane by his house (he needed a helmet to go farther afield). An unforgettable emotion for father and son, thanks to the Vespa. Now Dimitris is taking part in the rallies organised by the Veria Vespa Club, in Macedonia.