January 2019 – It’s something Vespa enthusiasts have always known: the evergreen scooter that has charmed us for 72 years (it was created in 1946 in the Piaggio factory in Pontedera) is a vehicle that never grows old.
Generation after generation, millions of fans and collectors around the world know that the Vespa is much more than an industrial product: it is an icon that has stood the test of time, with an appeal that cuts across borders.
This has been confirmed by an independent American study conducted by J. D. Power (a company that reviews and conducts surveys of industrial products): the Vespa heads the list of cars and two-wheelers as the vehicle with the greatest ability to retain its value over time.
The findings of the study have been reported by The New York Times, in an article published in its international edition consecrating the Italian scooter for its unique aesthetic and construction.
J. D. Power examined 24 categories of vehicles to analyse their resale price over a three-year period: in top place was the Vespa. A few figures: the average retention value for four-wheel vehicles three years after purchase is 55.7%; the average value for Vespa scooters is 72.1%, with a peak of 79% for the Sprint 150 and the GTS 300. The Vespa beats the best cars, trucks and sport utility vehicles, including the Dodge Heavy Duty Ram 3500 (75%), the Porsche Cayman and Boxster (58.9%), and even the celebrated Porsche 911 (58.7%).
The NYT prints a number of comments about the pre-eminence of the Vespa. Chelsea Lahmers, founder of the Moto Richmond dealership in Virginia, says: “One reason could be that whereas most luxury car brands have competition, the Vespa doesn’t have any competition, it holds a unique place in its market.” For Lenny Sims, vice president of J. D. Power and head of the motorcycle sector, the Vespa’s value lies “in the image it has built up in popular culture over 72 years; it has been a success since the 1950s and over the years it has conserved the aesthetic of the original 1946 version.” There’s simply nothing like it.
ROY FURCHGOTT’S ARTICLE IN THE NEW YORK TIMES (27 December 2018):
www.nytimes.com/2018/12/27/business/vespa-scooters-resale-values.html
2018 Resale Value Awards by J.D. Power:
www.jdpower.com/business/press-releases/2018-resale-value-awards
The J. D. Power website:
www.jdpower.com/business