At a press conference held at Piaggio's Ho Chi Minh City office to mark the 80th anniversary of the Vespa brand (1946-2026), Gianluca Fiume, CEO of Piaggio Asia Pacific, discussed the contribution of the company's workforce in Vietnam.

According to Fiume, employees in the country contribute to Piaggio's operations in the global market. In addition to being a market for Piaggio, Vietnam has a role in the group's operations in Asia, serving as what Piaggio describes as a "brain centre" for the continent.

From Vespa production to a Vietnamese intellectual ecosystem

Speaking to the press, Fiume described Piaggio's investment in Vietnam in 2008 as a strategic decision. After nearly two decades of operations in the country, Piaggio has established a two-wheeler production base and developed activities covering manufacturing, engines, research and development (R&D), human resources and the local supply chain.

For consumers, Vespa production in Vietnam involves the use of the company's Italian design and European technology alongside the capabilities and technical expertise developed by Vietnamese employees and suppliers.

Piaggio Vietnam's operations also extend beyond the assembly of motorcycles from imported components. The company's activities include local engineering, manufacturing processes and a domestic supplier network.

The Piaggio Vietnam factory in Phu Tho province, formerly Vinh Phuc province, has been operational since 2009. Three years later, the group began operating an engine factory alongside the vehicle production facility. The complex also houses Piaggio's first and only two-wheeler R&D centre in Asia, which works with engineering teams in Pontedera, Italy, to develop vehicle and engine models for the Asia-Pacific market.

The operations in Vietnam therefore include production, engineering and technical activities. Vietnam's population of approximately 100 million people also represents a market for the group's products.

From supply chain to knowledge chain

Piaggio Group identifies people and capacity building as part of its corporate strategy. In Vietnam, Piaggio Vietnam refers to "People" as its "fifth brand", alongside Vespa, Piaggio, Aprilia and Moto Guzzi. In 2017, Fiume announced the "Spotless" strategy, under which people are placed at the centre of the group's activities.

Piaggio Vietnam has been recognised by Great Place To Work as one of the best places to work in Vietnam. The company has also received the "Best Workplace in Asia" award from HR Asia for six consecutive years and was awarded the commemorative medal "For the Cause of the Planning and Investment Sector of Vietnam" by the Ministry of Planning and Investment.

These initiatives form part of Piaggio Vietnam's approach to workforce development and its operations. Investment in Vietnamese human resources has also contributed to engineering and technology development. Vietnamese engineers have participated in optimising the i-Get engine for fuel efficiency, operation and durability. Their work included analysing local riding habits and examining weather conditions such as flooding and high humidity to adapt the engine to local requirements.

Fiume said: "That engine was born here, in this country, and is applied to Piaggio and Vespa product lines worldwide."

The development of local engineering capabilities has also contributed to the company's supply chain. By 2025, Piaggio factories in Vietnam had spent 184 million euros purchasing components from 304 partners, with 70.8% of this expenditure going directly to Vietnamese suppliers. Piaggio Vietnam has also become a supplier of Vespa components to the group's factory in Indonesia.

The experience gained by Vietnamese engineers in areas including manufacturing processes, quality control, R&D and management also contributes to the country's industrial workforce. Piaggio Vietnam has extended this approach to education by supporting the training of future engineers while they are still studying.

In 2025, the Phu Tho factory welcomed more than 300 students on field trips, reached nearly 1,000 young people through job fairs and signed strategic memoranda of understanding with universities. The company has also organised CEO Talks and career orientation sessions as part of its engagement with students and prospective employees.

In Phu Tho, where Piaggio Vietnam's production centre is located, the company has expanded its links with colleges and vocational schools. School-business cooperation programmes include factory visits, career orientation sessions and the donation of vehicles and engines for training purposes. These activities provide students with exposure to technology and manufacturing processes while supporting vocational training and the development of young workers in the local area.

For Vietnamese consumers, the Vespa is an Italian brand produced in Vietnam, supported by local manufacturing capabilities, technology, engineering expertise and personnel. Its production in Vietnam forms part of an ecosystem connected to Piaggio's global operations and supply chain.