Ex-MV Agusta owner Castiglioni invests in Vmoto, joins board of directors

The Castiglioni dynasty has returned to the motorcycle industry following an announcement it has invested into and signed a strategic partnership with Chinese-Australian company Vmoto.

Renowned for its work with MV Agusta during both the highs of its 1990s zenith and nadir in the 2010s, Claudio Castiglioni presided over the Italian firm at the time of bringing the MV Agusta F4 and Brutale to market, plus the iconic Ducati 916 sportsbike during the period in which he owned Ducati, Cagiva, Moto Morini and Husqvarna.

However, MV Agusta’s waning fortunes towards the end of the 2010s would signal a change of direction for the company as it became wholly owned by the Sardarov family, a move that would see the Castiglioni dynasty officially sever ties in 2019.

However, the family business - now run by Claudio’s son, Giovanni Castiglioni - is back in motorcycling for 2022 after investing into Vmoto, better known on these shores for its Super Soco electric scooters.

The deal will allow the company to expand its footprint in Europe as it launches its new ‘premium’ line of full-size electric motorcycles, led by the Vmoto Stash, which will hit the roads over the next couple of months.

“(Giovanni Castiglioni’s) experience and impressive track record in the global motorcycle industry gives me great confidence in his ability to support Vmoto in delivering unprecedented growth and success,” explained Vmoto Managing Director Charles Chen. 

“I am also thrilled to consolidate my friendship and collaboration with Graziano Milone who, in addition to playing a strategic and important role for Vmoto, has increased his stake in the company as a demonstration of the trust he places in Vmoto.”

One of the world’s fastest growing two-wheel companies, Vmoto has enjoyed success with its Super Soco brand in various countries, cornering the small but growing market for electric scooters.

Indeed, in the UK, the Super Soco made history in 2021 by becoming the first electric model to crack the overall top ten in the sales charts with the CPx, while the company has a 30% share of the entire electric PTW market as it stands.