This article is about manufacturers of seated motor-scooters. For stand-up scooter devices, see Kick scooter.
Note there is no single fixed definition of a scooter (also known by the full name motor-scooter), but generally a smaller motorcycle with a step-through frame is considered a scooter, especially if it has a floor for the rider's feet (as opposed to straddling the vehicle like a conventional motorcycle). Other common traits of scooters can include: bodywork (so the mechanicals are not exposed like a conventional motorcycle), motors combined with the suspension or wheel (rather than attached to the frame like a conventional motorcycle), leg shields, smaller wheels than a conventional motorcycle, and an alternative to a chain drive.[1]
Scooters share traits with mopeds (some models could even be considered both a moped and a scooter). Adding to the confusion between them, in many jurisdictions smaller engined scooters (e.g. 50cc) are road registered in the same legal category as mopeds (often named "Moped" class), leading to scooters being casually referred to as "mopeds" in such areas.[2]Underbones also share traits with scooters (e.g. small and step-through design), but they are generally not strictly considered scooters in the purest sense as they do not have a floor, but they are often casually referred to as scooters (especially ones with leg shields).
ADIVA S.r.l. - Maxiscooters (200–400) with a foldable roof; initial scoters in 2000 were collaborations with Benelli.[3] Largely Taiwanese built range.
Her Chee Industrial Co Ltd; previously US market brands included AMS, Jui Li, and Grycner (using German supplied Sachs 505 engines). Currently Taiwanese built range.
Bajaj Auto Ltd; Licensed manufacturer of Vespa scooters (sold as Vespa 150) in the 1960s. Production continued after the license expired in the 1970s (sold as Bajaj); models included the Chetak (until 2006), and the Priya (subcontracted to Maharashtra Scooters Ltd to manufacture[7][user-generated source]). From 2019 electric models also named Chetak, but as its own marque[8]
Formerly named Daelim Motor Company and Daelim Motorcycle, renamed DNA Motors in 2021; however the Daelim brand name is still used in some markets (e.g. UK).
Genuine Scooter Company; US brand selling Asian manufactured scooters. Initially with Indian LML Vespa style metal bodied scooters (as the Genuine Stella), moving on to Taiwanese PGO Scooters; includes the Buddy model range.
Lambretta GmbH (joint venture of the Swiss Lambretta Consortium/Innocenti SA. and the Austrian KSR Group); V models designed by Austrian firm Kiska, and produced in Asia based on SYM mechanicals. Later models include the G350, a monocoque steel chassis design.[11]
Motive Power Industry; originally in collaboration with Piaggio until 1982. Models include Bubu, G-Max, and PMX. Manufacturers of Genuine Scooters's Buddy and Roughhouse models.
Produced by Aprilia. Initially an Aprilia model introduced in 1993, Scarabeo is now brand in its own right within the Piaggio group. Range has included 50 to 500cc models.
Yamaha Motor Company; Originally made in Japan, but various models are also made or assembled in Yamaha plants in other countries like Indonesia, Singapore or Vietnam, Taiwan, and Philippines.
Zhongneng Vehicle Group Co., Ltd.; petrol and electric scooters. Sold under numerous brands including Qianxifeng,[21] Jinlun (worldwide), Lexmoto (UK), Tamoretti (UK, Netherlands), Dorton (Spain), Mondial (Turkey), and in the USA Paparazzi's, Flyscooters, Lance, and BMS. Owners of Moto Morini.
Agrati (1958–1965), Merged with Garelli in 1961, scooters branded as Garelli Capri from 1965 — Italy[29]
Allstate/Sears (1948–1967), Brand of retailer Sears to rebadge scooters manufactured by Cushman, Piaggio and Puch. The Allstate name was replaced with "Sears" for 1966-1967[30] — USA
American Motor Scooter Corporation (1960–1965), Clinton powered folding "suitcase" scooters; Founded by USA Lambretta parts dealer, taken over by American Lincoln Corporation[31] — USA
Allwyn (1974—?), the Pushpak model was a Lambretta GP based scooter manufactured by Andhra Pradesh Scooters Limited, who later also made licensed Vespa PL170s (1983–1986) — India
Bonvinci Marino (BM) (1959–1964), Models included Minotauro (75cc) and Pokerino (50cc) — Italy[42]
Brockhouse Corgi (1946–1954), Civilian version of the military Welbike. Built by Brockhouse Engineering Ltd., and sold as brands including Indian Papoose in the USA — United Kingdom[43]
Brumana Pugliese (1970–1980), Lambretta models plus its own models — Brazil
Coaster (1950s), Jet 200cc model, made by Sanko Kogyo (a spin-off from Nakajima Aircraft Company), then briefly by Sankar Manufacturing Inc, and finally by Nippon Motor Co. — Japan[47]
CubStar (1950—?), Scooter with moped style bicycle pedals, probably 50cc Honda powered. Made by Ruby Nikken Industry Co., Ltd. — Japan[48]
Dayton (1954–1960), models included Albatross (powered by 224cc Villiers 1H engine) and Flamenco[49] — United Kingdom
DKR (1957–1967), DKR Company formed by Day & Robinson of Willenhall Radiators, and Cyril Kieft. Models included the Dove, Pegasus, and Capella,[50] powered by various Villiers engines. — United Kingdom[51]
DKW (1921–1922, 1954–1957) — Germany / West Germany[52]
FIAMC (Fabbrica Italiana Auto Moto Cicli) (1950s) — Italy[56]
Fly / Flyscooters (2006–2010), Florida based distributors of Chinese and Taiwanese built scooters, particularly Znen — USA
Frambretta (1970s—?), Truck versions of Siambretta's licence built Lambrettas — Argentina [57][32]
Fuji (1946–1968), In addition to the Rabbit marque of Fuji Heavy Industries (parent company of Subaru), Fuji also made the Go-Devil folding "suitcase scooter" from 1964 to 1967[58] — Japan
Garelli (1965–1970), post-merger re-branding of the Agrati Capri — Italy[59]
Generic (2000s), Former brand of Austrian KSR Group used for Asian imports — Austria
Laverda (1960–1962), models included Mini 60 and Mini-Scooter.[73] (2000–2004), re-branded Asian sourced scooters — Italy
LML (formerly Lohia Machines Ltd) (1984–2017), Licensed partner of Piaggio until 1999 building Vespa based scooters, including the Select and Star models. Bankrupt 2017, factory dismantled and plant sold off (but as of 2021 planning to return as LML Electric with electric scooters[74]) — India
Lohner (1950–1963), Rotax-Sachs and ILO engines;[75] Merged with the Rotax engine company to form Lohner-Rotax in 1959 — Austria
Motobi (1963–1968), 50 and 100cc scooters;[85] Relaunched by Austrian partnership in 2010 including a scooter line — Italy
Motoflash (1950s), 50cc and 75cc two-stroke engines — Italy[56]
Motobloc / Riva Sport Industries (RSI) (1950s), Initially sold the Swiss AMI scooter as the Ami Motobloc. The Sulky was developed with RSI — France[86]
Motoblic (1960s), Models included a 75cc model,[87] and Stela 100cc model[88] — Spain
Orix (1950–1954) 125cc and 175cc models, including the JLO-powered Orix-Prina — Italy[94]
Paloma (1954–1969), Etablissements Michel Humblot; Acquired by Cazenave in 1964 — France[26]
Parilla (1952–1959) Levriere 125cc and 150cc models[95] — Italy
(Pasco) Lambretta (1964–1982), Originally Lambretta do Brasil, became Brumana Pugliese S.A. making its own small motorcycle models and a modified Lambretta Series III — Brazil [32]
Prina (1949–1954) 125cc two-stroke scooter, in 1952 the 175cc JLO-powered Orix-Prina in conjunction with Orix — Italy[56][97]
Prior (1950s), Rebadged German Hercules scooters by Industria Ltd of London for the UK and Commonwealth markets, models included the Viscount — United Kingdom/West Germany[98]
Renault (2000s), Car manufacturer Renault sold an Italian made roofed scooter (which was a joint venture between Benelli and Adiva SRL), as the Renault Full Time — France
Reynolds Runabout (1919–1924), Jackson Car Manufacturing Co and later by A. W. Wall — United Kingdom[100]
Salsbury (1936–1950), Californian businessman E. Foster Salsbury introduced the CVT. Models included the Motor Glide (the world's first commercially viable motor scooter). — USA[104]
Siam-bretta / Siambretta (1948–1970), Licence built Lambrettas — Argentina [32]
Siamoto (1996–1999), Models included the Scross off-road scooter[citation needed] — Italy
SICRAF (Paul Vallée Motos) (1949–1954), Societe Industrielle de Construction et de Recherches Automobiles de France; Aubier-Dunne and Ydral engines — France[26]
SIM (Società Italiana Motoscooters) / SIM-Moretti (1953–1955) — Italy[107]
Simard (1951–1954), Ydral and AMC engines — France[108]
Simonetta / San Cristoforo (1952–1954), Later version of the Nibbio built by San Cristoforo under licence from Ravat of France — Italy[56][109]
Solex (1968–1974), Micron moped with a scooter form-factor — France[110]
Stewart (1959–1963), acquired by BSA — New Zealand[111]
Strolch/Progress (1950–1960), Models included Rascal, Vagabond, Little Monkey. Name was changed to Progress in 1954 — West Germany[112]
Sun / Raleigh (1957–1964), Sun Cycle & Fittings Co Ltd was absorbed by Raleigh Industries in 1958. Models included the Roma, a licence built Bianchi[37] — United Kingdom[113][114]
Unibus (1920–1922), manufactured by Gloucestershire Aircraft Company, like the later Vespa it was designed by an aircraft engineer (also trying to diversify production after a post-war loss of war time contracts), and is one of the first scooters to have a modern-styled enclosed body. Powered by a 269cc two-stroke motor — United Kingdom[128][129]
Valmobile (1955–1961), Victor Bouffort folding "suitcase scooter" design manufactured by Martin-Moulet in France (1955–56), and Hirano Motorcycle Company of Japan (1956–61)[130] — France & Japan
Victa (1960s), Fuji Rabbit scooters assembled and sold by Australasian outdoor garden equipment manufacturer Victa in New Zealand — New Zealand[132]
Vijai (1975–1997), Lambretta GP/DL made by state-owned Scooters India Ltd (SIL), with plant acquired from the defunct Lambretta. Sold as the Vijai brand in India and as Lambretta for export markets. After 1997 it focused on three-wheelers until its closure in 2021 — India[133][134]
Vyatka (1956–1979; 1999—?) Initially an unlicensed copy of the Vespa 150;[136] In 1999 Vyatskiye Polyany Machine-Building Plant was renamed Molot and started production of the Strizh scooter,[84] but by 2017 was struggling financially[137] — USSR (Russia) / Russia
Walba (1949–1952), One of the first post-war German scooters, production taken over by FAKA — West Germany[138]