Ferdinando Innocenti

Who was Ferdinando Innocenti?

Ferdinando Innocenti an Italian businessman who founded the machinery-works company Innocenti and was the creator of the Lambretta motorscooter.

Innocenti started working as an assistant to a blacksmith in 1907. By 1966, BMC models – primarily at that date versions of the Mini and the Austin/Morris 1100, assembled to a high standard at Innocenti's Milan plant – accounted for three percent of the Italian passenger car market.

On his death his son, Luigi, who had been vice-chairman since 1958, succeeded him in the top job at the company he had founded.