Count Giovanni Agusta first formed MV Agusta in 1907, originally as an aircraft manufacturer in Samarate, Italy, where they produced aircraft during the First World War. Count Giovanni Agusta later died in 1907 and endowed the company to his wife, who was forced to diversify the company to keep it from going bankrupt.
With the growing demands by Italians for motorcycles, the plant changed its focus from aircraft to motorcycles. After designing highly efficient 98 cc two-stroke engine, the Second World War started and due to the local occupation by German troops, MV Agusta was unable to finish their motorcycle until after the occupation.
By 1945, MV Agusta was finally able to release their first motorcycle to the public and was originally called the Vespa 98, but since the Vespa name was already a registered motorcycle company, they settled with the latter and simply named it the 98 and by 1946, not only were they able to deliver their motorcycles to the public, but their motorcycles were already carving their way into the chronicles of motorcycle history.
On an off beat whim, MV Agusta bought out Bell Helicopters and utilised the technology in their motorcycles. It was this whim that helped MV Agusta survive throughout the Japanese Motorcycle Infestation of not just Europe, but the entire world, but shortly after the company fell into an economic crisis in which they merged with the infamous Cagiva Motorg Group. Thanks to the Cagiva family of motorcycle manufacturers, MV Agusta was enabled to a second wind.
The MV Agusta is still in production today under the ownership of the Cagiva Group of motorcycle manufacturers.
Original Authors: Nicholas
Edit Update Authors: M.A.Harris
Updated On: 03/06/2008
