Mandello del Lario, Italy – After a five‑year, €50 million renovation, Moto Guzzi opened its expanded headquarters, museum and factory on the shores of Lake Como on Thursday. The ceremony kicked off a weekend pilgrimage for thousands of Moto Guzzi riders who arrived early to see the new facilities and take part in the World Guzzi Days ride along the scenic lakeside roads.
New space for a historic brand
The expansion added roughly 5,500 square meters (about 60,000 square feet) of factory floor and a modern museum that celebrates the iconic two‑cylinder motorcycles owned by Piaggio since 2004. The upgrades, which took five years to complete, are expected to double the plant’s maximum output to 30,000 motorcycles per year.
Visitors could watch workers hand‑assemble bikes at observation points, a tradition that has continued for more than a century. “Moto Guzzi is handmade, it is an artisanal product, it’s a piece of art,” said Matteo Boddi, head of manufacturing for the Piaggio Group. “We never substitute automation for this core part. Automation is for safety and for sustainability.”
Riders from around the world gather
Among the attendees was Timothy Bennett, a 58‑year‑old rider from Georgia, USA, who is making his second trip after a low‑key 100th‑anniversary celebration during the pandemic. “I’ve owned a Moto Guzzi since my 20s,” Bennett said, recalling his first 850‑T and his current 2018 California 1400 Touring. “The first time I saw one in a magazine, I thought it looked very interesting. And then I went ahead and saved up some money and bought a used one, and fell in love.”
Roland Rampnoux, a long‑time visitor from a Paris‑based Moto Guzzi club, praised the camaraderie among riders. “When you see a Moto Guzzi it is immediately recognizable. It is a legendary brand,” he said.
Design and accessibility
U.S. architect Greg Lynn, who helped design the new visitor areas, said the goal was to make the site welcoming for both passionate motorcyclists and curious tourists who may never have heard of the brand before. The lake’s famous backdrop, known for its appearances in films and celebrity villas, provides a stunning setting for the event, though the draw remains the motorcycles themselves.
The expansion also introduced an automation belt and robotics to move parts and transport finished bikes for final testing, blending traditional craftsmanship with modern safety and sustainability measures.
Original reporting: Alexandria, VA News – WTOP News — read the source article.
