Lambretta (Italian pronunciation: [lamˈbretta]) is a brand of motor scooters, manufactured in Milan, Italy, by Innocenti.

Lambretta scooters were also manufactured under licence by Fenwick in France, NSU in Germany, Serveta in Spain, API in India, Yulon in Taiwan, Pasco in Brazil, Auteco in Colombia and Siambretta in Argentina.

The main stimulus for the design style of the Lambretta and Vespa dates back to pre-World War II Cushman scooters made in Nebraska, United States.

These olive green scooters were in Italy in large numbers, ordered originally by the United States military as field transport for the paratroops and marines.

The United States military had used them to get around German defence tactics of destroying roads and bridges in the Dolomites (a section of the Alps) and the Austrian border areas.

The pass-through leg area design was geared towards women, as wearing dresses or skirts made riding conventional motorcycles a challenge.

Pallavicino had been Technical Director at the Caproni airplane factory during World War II before working on the Lambretta design.

[3][4][5] Arriving on the market the following year, the 1947 Lambretta featured a rear pillion seat for a passenger or optionally a storage compartment.

[7][9] As wealth increased in western Europe in the late 1960s, the demand for motor scooters fell as the small car became affordable to more people and Lambretta sales started to decline, as did the financial status of parent company Innocenti.

Long industrial strikes in BLMC ensued; motor-scooter sales declined sharply, and Innocenti finally closed shop in 1972.

[7] In the early 2000s a number of modern plastic scooters originating in China and Taiwan started appearing on western markets with 'Lambretta' branding on them.

In 1972, Scooters India Ltd. (SIL) a state-run enterprise based in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, bought the entire Lambretta manufacturing and trademark rights.

Further improvements were made in the final years of production by incorporating a 12v electronic ignition with contemporary Japanese style CDI unit and an advanced front suspension.

SIL also distributed complete knock downs that were assembled in different parts of India and sold as the Allwyn Pusphak, Falcon, and Kesari.

Across the UK there are many privately owned scooter shops which deal with everything Lambretta, from sales, services, parts, tuning, performance and complete nut and bolt restorations.

In Portuguese, "lambreta" is used as a synonym for "scooter", being listed at the Novo Dicionário da Língua Portuguesa, one of the Brazil's main dictionaries, as a noun/substantive.

The small village of Rodano, near Milan, hosts the biggest Lambretta museum in Europe and the Innocenti archives.

Early versions were available in "closed", with fully covered mechanicals or "open", with minimal panels and thus looking like an unusual motorcycle.

Of the 1960s models, the TV (Turismo Veloce), the Special (125 and 150), the SX (Special X) and the GP (Grand Prix) are generally considered the most desirable due to their increased performance and refined look; the "matte black" fittings on the GP model are said to have influenced European car designs throughout the 1970s.

Designed by Bertone Innocenti wanted a small frame and engine Lambretta that could be sold alongside the larger models.

Common modifications include a Nikasil plated aluminium barrel with radical porting, large Dell'Orto or Mikuni carburettors and bespoke expansion chambers.