Italian scooter brand Lambretta has returned to the Israeli market after nearly 15 years, marking a renewed presence in the country’s growing two-wheeler sector.
The iconic brand, originally founded in Milan in 1947 by the Italian company Innocenti, was once a global symbol of affordable urban mobility. The scooters saw major success throughout the 1950s, and in 1959, a Lambretta assembly line was even established in Kiryat Shmona, northern Israel—part of a wider international production push that included plants in Europe, Asia and South America.
However, the brand’s fortunes declined sharply in the 1970s. British Leyland acquired Innocenti in the early part of the decade and soon shut down Lambretta production, citing financial losses. In 1972, the Indian government purchased the brand and its Milan-based production lines, shifting its focus to three-wheeled vehicles for the local market. The move did little to revive Lambretta’s global appeal.
The brand changed hands again in 2006, this time to a British investment firm, but serious revival efforts only began in 2011, when Lambretta scooters were once again produced—this time using Taiwanese SYM engines and components, with styling that remained faithful to the Italian original. A previous attempt to reintroduce Lambretta to Israel in 2013 was short-lived and deemed unsuccessful.
Today, Lambretta scooters are assembled in Thailand and continue to retain their classic aesthetic. Three model families are currently in production:
- V Series: Available with 50cc, 125cc or 200cc engines
- X Series: Offered with 125cc or 300cc engines, in standard, Special and SR trims
- G Series: Featuring a 350cc engine in two versions
As of this week, three models are available in Israel:
- V125: NIS 24,000
- X125: NIS 28,000
- X300: NIS 38,000
- A fourth model, the G350, is expected to arrive later this year.
The X125 is powered by a 124.2cc single-cylinder, four-stroke engine producing approximately 13 horsepower, paired with a CVT automatic transmission. It weighs 174 kilograms with a 7.5-liter fuel tank and sits 790 millimeters off the ground. Tire sizes are 120/70-12 up front and 130/70-12 in the rear.
The V125, considered a more basic version of the X125, features similar mechanical specs but with a slightly shorter length (190 cm), a lower seat height (2 cm lower), and retro-style design elements, including a yellow halogen front headlamp instead of LED.
The X300 comes with a 275cc single-cylinder engine producing around 25 horsepower and features disc brakes front and rear. Despite the larger engine, it weighs just 160 kg, less than the 125cc models. It shares the same fuel tank and tire specs as the X125.
All models are covered by a three-year or 36,000-kilometer factory warranty, whichever comes first. Color options include white, red, black, blue, orange, and a special Italian racing-inspired GP version of the X300.
Lambretta’s Israeli importer is offering leasing, financing and trade-in options. The brand’s new flagship showroom is located at 6 HaMasger Street in Tel Aviv, with service available at approximately 20 authorized garages nationwide.