M and M Lambretta

Innocenti Factory
(past and present)


Lambretta scooters we made in many different countries around the world -

Italy, more than any other country, is known for its motorscooters. In the movies, a photograph of Rome, or in a story about this sunbathed country, the motorscooters is an obvious feature in the Italian way of life. The name most often mentioned when scooters are discussed is Lambretta, and the story of this marquee is a study of the post war industrialisation of Italy. The Lambretta, like many of its European brothers, is locked up and interwoven with a parent company that produces many other products in addition to its two-wheeled vehicles.

It all began in Italy with Innocenti's first scooter, the Model (M) rolled off the production line in 1947. The M went on to be known as the Model A, and from then on the success of Lambretta grew and grew. Who would have thought even today Ferdinando Innocenti and his designers idea of getting Italy mobile after the war, would continue to be a passion, way of life, and a mode of transport, even today.

At first Innocenti struggled to make it's scooter profitable, such was the attention to detail and quest for perfection, but in the early stages huge set up costs and small production volumes all added to the overall costs of the machines. As time went on, the factory became more and more modern, efficient and with each machine production volumes rose quickly making the Lambretta a profitable and viable product.

Innocenti's main market to start with was its home Italian market, but they soon looked for new markets to expand sales and the word of Lambretta. All parts of Europe soon began selling these small scooters, and then most other parts of the world also saw the Lambretta hit their shores.

Innocenti soon realised that by granting licences to manufacture scooters to various countries around the world would not only allow the Lambretta to be sold in more countries around the world, but also saw them gain royalties from such ventures without capitol outlay from the main factory itself.

Some of the countries around the world that seek licences from Innocenti were, Spain, France, Germany, India, Argentina, Brazil, Chile and more. Although some producers did market the Lambretta under differing names, such as the Serveta from Spain, the Siambretta from South America, they all share the family design that came originally from Italy.

Many of these factories continued to produce Lambrettas long after Innocenti close it doors. The Italian factory when it finally closed it's doors, was sold to the Indian Government who set up S.I.L, Scooters India Limited who continue even today to produce a version of the Lambro three wheeled Vehicle.

The last two wheeled scooters to roll of the production lines of the various factories was as follows -

Italy:        Production ceased 1972
Spain:    Production ceased 1989
India:      Production ceased 1998
France:  Believed to be 1958
Germany:    Innocenti based products ceased in 1956, but the continued for a few years under NSU Prima
South American:    Not know, some factories still exist today, but making cars
                                The Innocenti name is still used in Brazil.

 


Innocenti Factory (Peak of production) -



Sadly in 1971/2 the Innocenti factory closed it doors, as the then owners BMC decided Lambretta scooters were a gimmick and that production of cars was more important. It is quite sad to note, that between four to five years around this period, the people in charge of BMC have been reported to make strange decisions regarding the car market in the UK, which many historians consider to be the start of the demise of the British car manufacturers as well as the Italian Lambretta!

After Innocenti closed its doors for making two and three wheeled products, the factory was sold lock stock and barrel the Indian government, who set up Scooters India Limited. SIL still survives today, but only producing three wheeled products. Even SIL stopped production of two wheeled Lambrettas around 1998.

The Spanish factory Eibar also continued long after the demise of Innocenti, building Lambrettas and Servetas in to the late 1980's.

The Innocenti factory as it stands in 1995, most of the factory has been demolished and has apartments built on it, but some of the car producing factories, main gates, Centro Studi, the research and design building for Innocenti and other small buildings remain, most are due to be flattened.


Innocenti Factory (What's left) -

One of the main factories, mainly produced four wheeled vehicles.

 




Inside the factory for four wheeled vechicles factory at peak production days












Other parts of the factory (steel being rolled)




Centro Studi
You can just about see the Lambro river that used to run through the centre of the factory complex in the back ground




Visiting Lambretta enthusiasts
This is probably the most photographed section of the factory, the main gates with five Lambrettas outside them!





Bus service still stops at the factory gates, are there workers still inside?




The above information was obtained from the Lambretta Club of Great Britain, one of the oldest Lambretta Clubs around.  Many thanks to all the friends on the site that always help and provide great information.






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M and M Lambretta - All Rights Reserved