Nostalgia re-visited as Lambretta scooter is all set to make a comeback in India
In today’s world where most people prefer fancy motorcycles and bikes, there are many who are still fond of cute, old scooters. There’s good news for all scooter lovers. Turns out, Lambretta, one of the earliest scooters that was among the first and trusted choices of scooter owners through the mid-20th century, is all set to make a comeback in India, in a grander and cleaner avatar. This Milan-based scooter will be reincarnated in collaboration with Bird Mobility. Here’s what you need to know about this new development.
Lambretta: The most sough-after scooter of the 20th century
For those of you who have grown up watching Hollywood and Bollywood movies featuring scooters from brands such as Bajaj and Vespa, you might find it interesting to note that it was the sturdy and bulky Lambretta that made many appearances long before the above-mentioned duo, in several classic films from yesteryears. Not only that, it was one of the go-to choices for real scooter lovers.
For the unversed, Lambretta was born in 1947 and was originally manufactured by automobile giant Innocenti in Milan, Italy. It didn’t take long to become a global sensation. However, it was discontinued worldwide in 1972, only to be revived by Switzerland-based Innocenti SA (now the owner of Lambretta globally) a few years later. But unfortunately, back then, it didn’t make a comeback in India. Nonetheless, the legacy continued when the Indian government bought machinery from the Milanese factory and established their own Scooter India Limited (SIL). Since then, a similar motor scooter was available in the Indian market under the name Vikram.
Interestingly, the name Lambretta has been derived from the name of a suburban district of Milan called Lambrate which was in turn named after Lambro River that flowed along the region. In fact, it was here that the first ever Lambretta production site was established. Locals from the area also believed Lambretta to be a mythical water-sprite that lived in the adjacent river.
Lambretta’s comeback in India
According to several media sources, Innocenti SA that now owns the brand globally is all set to invest more than 200 million dollars in India for the next five years in association with the Bird Mobility Group to once again capture the domestic two-wheeler market. The company also plans to launch a wide range of high-powered scooters, such as their more popular G, V and X models with capacities ranging between 200cc and 350 cc by 2023. It has also shown deep interest in unveiling an electric scooter by 2024.
Sources further cite that the Innocenti SA officials are aiming to make Lambretta the ‘Ferrari of scooters’ in India with their high-end series mixed with a touch of nostalgia. The company has also revealed that the new range of Lambretta scooters in India will be of premium quality and almost 20 percent more expensive than the ones already in the market. What’s more interesting is that this joint venture will be 51 percent owned by Lambretta and rest by Bird Mobility Group. At present Lambretta is actively sold in 70 countries and is manufactured in both Europe and South East Asia. Now, Innocenti SA is looking forward to make their largest manufacturing unit in India by 2025, something that can promise to double the brand’s existing footprints.