Introduction

This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book addresses the following questions: what did Piaggio manufacture before inventing the Vespa during WWII? what was the medium- to long-term process of generating the core of know-how and technology used to create the Vespa? and how did the total war affect the company’s organization and resources? It focuses on the origins of the name “Vespa” and the idea of producing a scooter: when was the idea conceived and under what circumstances? The book deals with reconstruction in the framework of the European Recovery Program. It explains how Enrico Piaggio was able to triumph over all his rivals in creating a “people’s motorcycle,” an opportunity many entrepreneurs saw as central to the season of peace. The book explores how technologies from the US changed the setup of the Pontedera workshop, the so-called Officine, and contributed to the success of the Vespa.