Moto Guzzi celebrates its 100th anniversary with a project destined to change the history of the brand and lead it into the next century, accepting the new challenges of mobility. The historic plant in Mandello del Lario, where all the Moto Guzzi bikes have always been produced, will be updated with a major conservative renovation project signed by the American architect Greg Lynn, one of the most influential and innovative professionals in the sector. The new factory on the shores of Lake Como will be an environment with open spaces accessible to the public “A community center, based on culture, design and mechanics, with a marked green attitude, typical of the contemporary world” as explained by the Lynn himself in the presence of the top management of the Piaggio Group, the mayor of Mandello del Lario and the President of the Lombardy Region, Attilio Fontana.
The production capacity will increase up to 40,000 motorcycles per year (double the current) with a simultaneous increase in the number of employees, who are now two hundred plus eighty seasonal workers. «We wanted to give a soul to the factory that will no longer be just a place of work but also of aggregation. We will open our doors to the public by organizing many events »said Michele Colaninno, Head of Development and Innovation of the Piaggio group. The new buildings will be built using existing cubic spaces, with efficient management of energy resources, with photovoltaic systems and with sustainable materials. The project also includes new conference spaces, as well as a hotel and a restaurant; thus the plant will become a point of reference not only for Moto Guzzi enthusiasts, but also for young people and tourists who visit the lake all year round. The works will begin by 2021 and will be completed in the first half of 2025, but the size of the investment has not been declared.
Michele Colaninno then spoke about the general situation of the L’Aquila company «Moto Guzzi is in excellent health, with record sales, and will remain in Italy here in Mandello. They were difficult years: since the brand became part of the Piaggio family we have worked to rebuild the rubble and today we have no limits “said Colaninno, then speaking of the near future.” We want to continue like this for the next 100 years, always with a watch the market because today the market is the world. And in the Moto Guzzi world it has to fly; It will not be easy because the competition is strong, but we are not afraid of confronting ourselves with either Japan or the United States ».
Finally, Roberto Colaninno, Chairman and CEO of Piaggio focused on the situation of the Italian group which «is totally committed to the electric sector. It is a challenge that we cannot fail to take up, even if the terms of the European plan to 2030 for the reduction of emissions are short. The program launched this year is being carried out punctually both as investments and as human resources and as research ». Then Colaninno spoke about the transformation taking place “The moment is extremely positive and challenging, we want to concentrate to be able to change the DNA of Piaggio from a mechanical company to an electrical-electronic company between now and 2030. Today’s stage goes in this direction, together with the others that we have already planned, such as the new plant in Indonesia, the e-mobility facility in Pontedera and the hiring of hundreds of people “.
