Rinaldo Piaggio started his company in 1884. Then, they manufactured locomotive and railway carriages. As with many companies, they went military in 1917. The focus was now on motorboats, airplanes, and seaplanes. In 1938, Rinaldo passed away and left the company to his sons. Enrico and Armando kept with the military machines throughout World War II. After the war, Enrico wanted to diversify into affordable and small transportation. They began with motor scooters that weren't quite perfect. They kept redesigning to create the right scooter. They wanted something anyone could drive and would not get your clothes dirty. In 1946, Piaggio launched the Vespa. Piaggio has several brands aside from their Vespa and Piaggio models. You will find Gilera, Aprilia, Moto Guzzi, and Derbi. As of today, the company employs over 7,000 employees. They have produced well over 520,000 vehicles since 1946. Piaggio released a new type of motor scooter in 2006. The Piaggio MP3 is a scooter that features two small wheels in the front and one larger wheel in the back. The unique design allows for parking the bike without a kickstand. It is also appropriate for parking on irregular or sloped ground.