Editing Piaggio (section)

===Production===
In 1956, with production of the millionth [[Vespa]] scooter, Italy had its first mass-produced motorised vehicle. Taking advantage of increased cash flow thanks to the success of the Vespa, Piaggio developed other products, including the 1957 [[Vespa 400]], a compact passenger car.

In 1959 Piaggio came under the control of the [[Agnelli family]], the owners of car maker [[Fiat|Fiat SpA]].

By 1960 Vespa had produced and sold 4 million units worldwide.<ref>{{cite web |language=en |url=http://www.museopiaggio.it/en/history/ |title=Piaggio History |date=13 May 2015}}</ref>

In 1964 the aeronautical and motorcycle divisions of Piaggio split to become two independent companies as a result of the wide ownership by Fiat in Italian industry.{{Clarify|date=February 2013}} The aeronautical division was named IAM Rinaldo Piaggio. The aircraft company [[Piaggio Aerospace|Piaggio Aero]] was controlled by the family of Piero Ferrari, who still hold 10% of [[Ferrari]].

In 1969 Piaggio purchased the motorcycle company [[Gilera]], one of the oldest European motorcycle manufacturers (founded in 1909), famous for its sporting achievements and world titles in the [[Grand Prix motorcycle racing|Motorcycle World Championship]].<ref>{{cite web |language=en |url=https://www.autoevolution.com/moto/gilera/ |title=Gilera – Models and History}}</ref>

In 1971 a steering wheel was added to the [[Piaggio Ape]], a model first produced in 1948, culminating in the Ape Car. Four years later, in 1975, the company made the first prototype of an electric Ape.<ref>{{cite web |language=en |url=http://www.tukxi.com/history.html |title=History of Piaggio Ape}}</ref>

In 1988 the Vespa reached 10 million units produced.<ref>{{cite web |language=en |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/lifestyle/motoring/happy-days-vespa-celebrates-70th-7850941 |title=Happy Days! Vespa celebrates its 70th birthday |website=[[Daily Mirror]] |date=28 April 2016}}</ref>

In 1996, on the fiftieth anniversary of the first model, [[Vespa]] passed 15 million units produced and the new 4-stroke Vespa ET, the first completely new Vespa for 18 years, was launched.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.vespa.com/en_EN/Heritage.html |title=Vespa History}}</ref> Piaggio was still in poor financial health but its brand recognition remained strong, boosted by the appearance of the ET4 in several Hollywood films.

In 1999, in [[Baramati]], production began on a three-wheeler Ape for the [[India]]n market.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.motoroids.com/news/piaggio-inaugurates-vespa-manufacturing-plant-in-baramati/ |title=Piaggio inaugurates Vespa manufacturing plant in Baramati}}</ref>

In 2000 Piaggio and Vespa returned to the United States with the opening of the first Vespa Boutique in Los Angeles. In that same year the Piaggio Historical Museum was inaugurated in [[Pontedera]]. The museum showcases the Piaggio Historical Archive, one of the most comprehensive company archives on the industrial history of Italy.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.museopiaggio.it/en/ |title=Piaggio Museum}}</ref>

In 2001 the Piaggio Group acquired Derbi-Nacional Motor SA,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.piaggiogroup.com/en/group/brands/derbi |title=Derbi}}</ref> an historical Spanish brand founded in 1922 that had won 18 world titles and was a continental leader in the small displacement motorbike segment. In the same year [[Gilera]] returned to the [[Grand Prix motorcycle racing|Motorcycle World Championship]] and immediately won the world title in the 125 category with Manuel Poggiali.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2001/05/21/poggiali-brings-gilera-first-125-win-for-45-years/130710 |title=Poggiali brings Gilera first 125 win for 45 years}}</ref>

In April 2004 Piaggio and  Chinese manufacturer [[Zongshen]] signed a memorandum of understanding for the creation of the “Zongshen Piaggio Foshan Motorcycle” [[joint venture]] with a plant in Foshan for the production of scooters for the Chinese market.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wardsauto.com/italys-piaggio-make-scooters-china|title=Italy's Piaggio to make scooters in China|date=15 April 2004|accessdate=13 June 2023}}</ref>

In 2004, at the end of December, the final contract for the acquisition of the [[Aprilia]]-[[Moto Guzzi]] Group was signed. The most important European two-wheeler group is born.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.webbikeworld.com/motorcycle-news/piaggio-aprilia.htm |title=Piaggio Buys Aprilia & Moto Guzzi}}</ref>

In 2007 Piaggio Group arrived in [[Vietnam]]. The Vinh Phuc plant includes R&D, welding and painting activities, as well as final assembly of the scooters, with warehouse, testing, quality control and office areas.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.piaggiogroup.com/en/archive/press/piaggio-group-official-opening-new-vietnam-factory |title=Piaggio Group: official opening of new Vietnam factory}}</ref>

In 2009 the Piaggio Mp3 Hybrid made its debut on the market which was first hybrid scooter in the world, integrating the conventional low-environmental-impact internal combustion engine with a zero-emission electric motor and combining the advantages of the two power trains.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.autoblog.com/2010/07/07/piaggio-launches-mp3-hybrid-300ie-scooter/ |title=Piaggio launches MP3 Hybrid 300ie scooter}}</ref>

In [[Baramati]] (State of [[Maharashtra]]), in 2012, the Piaggio Group's new plant for the production of Vespa's for the local market was opened.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.piaggiogroup.com/en/archive/press/piaggio-group-vespa-makes-its-official-debut-indian-market |title=Piaggio Group: Vespa makes its official debut on the Indian market}}</ref>

In 2013 the PADC, Piaggio Advanced Design Center opened in [[Pasadena, California|Pasadena]] (California, United States).<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.cycleworld.com/2012/04/17/will-the-motorcycle-of-the-future-come-from-pasadena |title=Will The Motorcycle of the Future Come From Pasadena?}}</ref> The Vespa 946 was also launched this year, along with the new Vespa Primavera, the latest evolution of the "small body" family.

In 2013 Vespa's worldwide sales numbered almost 190,000 units; in 2004 the figure stood at 58,000. In ten years of continuous progression over 1.3&nbsp;million new Vespas have been produced. Since 1946 over 18 million Vespas have been produced and sold.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.news18.com/news/auto/70-years-of-vespa-all-the-vespas-produced-ever-1233703.html |title=70 Years of Vespa: All the Vespas Produced, Ever}}</ref>

In September 2017 Foton and Piaggio agreed to form a joint venture to develop and produce light commercial vehicle.<ref>[http://www.piaggiocommercialvehicles.com/it_IT/news-list/partnership-piaggio-foton/ Piaggio and Foton joint venture]</ref> Based on Foton chassis the new vehicle was sold by [[Piaggio Commercial Vehicle]] division globally apart from China. The vehicle is intended to be a successor of the [[Piaggio Porter]] and production was planned to start in mid-2019 in [[Pontedera]] ([[Italy]]) with all components produced by Foton in China.<ref>[http://www.repubblica.it/economia/finanza/2018/04/16/news/piaggio_all_accordo_con_i_cinesi_di_foton-194028229/ Piaggio Accordo con Foton per il nuovo Porter]</ref>