Lohia Machinery Limited
Lohia Machinery Limited, or LML, was an Indian manufacturer of scooters and motorcycles that evolved from a synthetic-yarn machinery business before becoming known for Vespa-derived and independently developed two-wheelers.
Last updated October 14, 2026
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Overview
Lohia Machinery Limited, commonly known as LML and formerly Lohia Machines Limited, was an Indian manufacturing company based in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh. It was incorporated in 1972 as Lohia Machines Private Limited and initially operated in industrial equipment, producing machinery for synthetic-yarn manufacturing under a technical collaboration with ARCT of France. In 1978, the business became a public limited company and expanded into the processing of synthetic yarn. The company’s defining strategic shift began in 1984, when it entered into a technical collaboration with Piaggio of Italy to establish a scooter project. The relationship later developed into a broader partnership, with LML and Piaggio each holding an equal 23.6 percent equity interest in the relevant joint venture structure by 1990. This arrangement gave LML access to Piaggio-related tooling, manufacturing knowledge and components, and helped establish the company as a significant participant in India’s geared-scooter market. LML’s early scooter range included a 100 cc model, followed by products such as the LML Supremo, an Indian-market interpretation of the Vespa Cosa, and the LML Select, introduced in 1993 and based on the Vespa T5 design. The Select combined a familiar metal-bodied scooter format with updated styling and technology and became one of the company’s better-known products. A subsidiary called Vespa Automobile Company Limited was associated with the production of Piaggio-branded Vespa PX scooters for the Indian market and LML Vespa models including the NV3, Alfa, T5 and 4W. The LML-Piaggio joint venture ended in 1999. LML nevertheless continued to manufacture classically styled geared scooters, most notably the Star, which used a steel body, a twist-shift four-speed manual transmission and, in earlier versions, a 150 cc two-stroke engine. Some Star-related products were exported under names including Stella in the United States and through distributors in the United Kingdom. LML also produced the Trendy 50 cc scooter from 1998 to 2006. The Trendy, previously associated with the Benelli Scooty name, was based on a separate Benelli project and did not share parts with Piaggio scooters. Alongside its scooter activities, LML pursued motorcycles. In 1999 it signed an agreement with South Korea’s Daelim Motor Company to manufacture four-stroke motorcycles. The company entered the motorcycle market more actively around 2000, introducing 100 cc lifestyle motorcycles using three-valve technology. Its Freedom commuter motorcycle and Adreno performance-oriented model followed in 2001. The Adreno was used by the Maharashtra Police traffic patrol squad on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway, giving the model a visible institutional application. In 2004, LML broadened its product portfolio with the Graptor and additional Freedom variants. The Graptor represented the company’s move into the 150 cc lifestyle segment and was developed with technical input from Italy’s Ugolini. The simultaneous introduction of the Graptor XL, Freedom Prima 110 and Freedom Prima 125 was presented as a transition from a predominantly single-product scooter business to a multi-product two-wheeler manufacturer. The company later faced sustained financial pressure. The reference material attributes the difficulties to high spending and weak volumes amid intense competition from Indian manufacturers such as TVS, Hero and Bajaj Auto, as well as later scooter competition from Honda and Suzuki. Financing from Credit Suisse and other institutions helped support a factory reopening in March 2008, primarily for geared scooters intended for export. LML also introduced a four-stroke version of its scooter in 2009, relaunched the Freedom DX in 2013, and added further Star variants and the Buddy three-wheeler around 2016. LML issued an insolvency notice on 2 June 2017. By August 2020, its Kanpur factory had reportedly been dismantled, with machinery, spares and scooters scrapped and some tooling sold. The company is therefore regarded as defunct, although its products and the LML name remain associated with India’s historic scooter and motorcycle industry.
History
Lohia Machinery Limited began in 1972 as Lohia Machines Private Limited in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh. Its original business focused on machinery for synthetic-yarn manufacturing, developed through a technical collaboration with ARCT of France. The company became a public limited company in 1978 and diversified into synthetic-yarn processing. A major transformation occurred in 1984, when LML entered a technical collaboration with Piaggio of Italy and established a scooter project. By 1990, the relationship had been recast as a partnership in which LML and Piaggio each held 23.6 percent equity. The collaboration enabled LML to assemble and manufacture Piaggio-related scooters in India and to use associated tooling, components and technical know-how. Early products included a 100 cc scooter, the Supremo and the Select. The 1993 Select was based on the Vespa T5 and became an important model for the company. The Piaggio relationship also supported Vespa Automobile Company Limited, a subsidiary responsible for producing Piaggio-branded Vespa PX scooters for the domestic market and LML Vespa models such as the NV3, Alfa, T5 and 4W. When the LML-Piaggio joint venture ended in 1999, LML retained a presence in the geared-scooter market through products such as the Star. The Star used a classic steel-bodied design, a twist-shift four-speed manual transmission and, in early form, a 150 cc two-stroke engine. Export versions were sold in some markets under names including Stella. LML’s product activity was not limited to Piaggio-derived scooters. The company produced the Trendy 50 cc from 1998 to 2006, a model connected to a Benelli project rather than the Piaggio platform. In 1999, LML signed a manufacturing agreement with Daelim Motor Company of South Korea for four-stroke motorcycles. It expanded into motorcycles around 2000 with 100 cc lifestyle models using three-valve technology. The Freedom commuter motorcycle and Adreno followed in 2001, while the Adreno gained visibility through use by Maharashtra Police traffic patrol officers on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway. The company expanded its motorcycle range in 2004 with the Graptor XL, Freedom Prima 110 and Freedom Prima 125. The Graptor was a 150 cc lifestyle motorcycle developed with technical collaboration from Ugolini of Italy. These launches represented LML’s effort to become a multi-product two-wheeler business rather than relying primarily on scooters. LML subsequently experienced financial constraints attributed in the reference material to spending, low production volumes and strong competition. Established Indian manufacturers, including TVS, Hero and Bajaj Auto, expanded substantially, while Honda and Suzuki also achieved significant scooter volumes. LML’s financial problems affected suppliers in Kanpur, including small-scale industrial units that had supported the company. New financing from Credit Suisse and other institutions supported the reopening of the factory on 8 March 2008. Production at that stage focused mainly on geared, Vespa-style scooters for export. K. K. Shangloo was appointed special director in 2008 under India’s Sick Industrial Companies legislation. LML launched a four-stroke scooter in 2009, relaunched the Freedom DX in 2013, and introduced additional Star variants in 2016, including the Star 125 Lite, Star Euro 150 and Star Euro 200. A three-wheeler called the Buddy was also introduced around 2016. LML issued an insolvency notice on 2 June 2017. By August 2020, the Kanpur factory had reportedly been completely dismantled. The remaining machines, scooters and spares were scrapped, and some tooling was sold. These developments ended LML’s industrial operations and left the company as a defunct historical Indian scooter and motorcycle brand.
- 2020
Factory dismantled
[1]By August, the factory had reportedly been dismantled and much of its equipment, inventory and scooters scrapped.
- 2017
Insolvency notice issued
[1]LML issued an insolvency notice on 2 June.
- 2016
New Star variants and Buddy three-wheeler introduced
[1]The company introduced the Star 125 Lite automatic, Star Euro 150 automatic, Star Euro 200 geared scooter and the Buddy three-wheeler.
- 2013
Freedom DX relaunched
[1]LML relaunched the 110 cc Freedom DX commuter motorcycle.
- 2009
Four-stroke scooter launched
[1]LML introduced a four-stroke scooter visually similar to its two-stroke counterpart but using a different engine mechanism.
- 2008
Kanpur factory reopened
[1]Following new financing, the factory reopened on 8 March to make geared scooters mainly for export.
- 2004
Expansion into a multi-product two-wheeler portfolio
[1]LML launched the Graptor XL, Freedom Prima 110 and Freedom Prima 125, broadening its range beyond scooters.
- 2001
Freedom and Adreno launched
[1]LML introduced the Freedom commuter motorcycle and the Adreno model.
- 1999
Piaggio joint venture ends and Daelim agreement begins
[1]The LML-Piaggio joint venture ended, while LML signed an agreement with Daelim Motor Company to manufacture four-stroke motorcycles.
- 1993
LML Select introduced
[1]LML introduced the Select, an Indian-market scooter based on the Vespa T5 design.
Products and positioning
Historically positioned as an Indian two-wheeler manufacturer combining licensed or technically derived European scooter designs with locally produced scooters and motorcycles. Its later range aimed to cover practical commuter motorcycles, lifestyle-oriented bikes, geared scooters and export-oriented classic scooter products.
Scooter · 1993
LML Select
Introduced in 1993, the Select was an Indian-market scooter derived from the Vespa T5 concept. It combined a classic metal-bodied format with updated styling and technology and became one of LML’s most recognizable products.
Scooter
LML Supremo
The Supremo was an LML scooter associated with the company’s Piaggio collaboration and described as the Indian version of the Vespa Cosa. It formed part of LML’s effort to establish a modern geared-scooter range in India.
Scooter
LML Star
The Star was a classically styled geared scooter with a steel body, twist-shift four-speed manual transmission and, in earlier versions, a 150 cc two-stroke engine. Related versions were exported to markets including the United States and United Kingdom under different distribution names.
Scooter · 1998
LML Trendy
The Trendy was a small 50 cc scooter produced from 1998 to 2006. It was connected to the Benelli Scooty project and was mechanically separate from LML’s Piaggio-derived scooter products.
Motorcycle · 2001
LML Freedom
The Freedom was LML’s deluxe commuter motorcycle, first launched in 2001. Later versions included the Freedom Prima range and the Freedom DX, reflecting the company’s attempt to compete in India’s practical commuter segment.
Motorcycle · 2001
LML Adreno
Introduced in 2001, the Adreno was positioned as a higher-performance motorcycle. It gained public visibility through use by Maharashtra Police’s traffic patrol squad on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway.
Motorcycle · 2004
LML Graptor
The Graptor, including the Graptor XL, marked LML’s entry into the 150 cc lifestyle-motorcycle segment. It was described as the company’s first indigenously designed motorcycle developed with technical collaboration from Ugolini of Italy.
Scooter · 2016
LML Star Euro
The Star Euro range represented a later attempt to update LML’s classic scooter platform. The documented variants included the automatic Star Euro 150 and the geared four-stroke Star Euro 200.
Three-wheeler · 2016
LML Buddy
The Buddy was a three-wheeler introduced around 2016 as part of LML’s effort to extend beyond its established scooter and motorcycle categories.
Brand decisions
2016
Refresh the Star range and add a three-wheelerProduct launchBackground
LML continued trying to extend the life of its classic scooter platform while broadening its product categories.
Action taken
The company introduced the Star 125 Lite automatic, Star Euro 150 automatic, Star Euro 200 geared scooter and, around the same period, the Buddy three-wheeler.
Aftermath
These were among LML’s last documented product initiatives before the 2017 insolvency notice and later dismantling of the factory.
2008
Restart production with an export-oriented focusStrategyBackground
LML’s factory had been affected by financial difficulties and production disruption.
Action taken
After obtaining financing from Credit Suisse and other institutions, LML reopened the factory on 8 March and focused primarily on geared Vespa-style scooters for export.
Aftermath
The restart provided a temporary continuation of manufacturing, but it did not prevent the company from later issuing an insolvency notice.
2004
Move from a scooter-led business to a multi-product portfolioProduct launchBackground
LML faced a competitive Indian two-wheeler market and sought to reduce dependence on its traditional scooter range.
Action taken
The company launched the Graptor XL, Freedom Prima 110 and Freedom Prima 125 in the same year.
Aftermath
The launches marked LML’s stated transition into a multi-product two-wheeler manufacturer, although the company later experienced severe financial constraints.
1999
Expand into four-stroke motorcycles after the Piaggio ventureStrategyBackground
The LML-Piaggio joint venture ended in 1999, increasing the importance of developing products and technical relationships outside the Piaggio scooter platform.
Action taken
LML signed an agreement with Daelim Motor Company of South Korea to manufacture four-stroke motorcycles.
Aftermath
The agreement supported LML’s subsequent motorcycle launches, including the Freedom and Adreno, and its broader move toward a multi-product two-wheeler portfolio.
1984
Enter the scooter market through a Piaggio collaborationStrategyBackground
LML began as a manufacturer of synthetic-yarn machinery and later diversified into yarn processing. The company sought a new consumer-manufacturing business and entered a technical collaboration with Piaggio.
Action taken
LML established a scooter project with Piaggio, gaining access to related technology, tooling and components for local production.
Aftermath
The collaboration transformed LML into a prominent Indian scooter manufacturer and shaped products including the Supremo, Select and Star.
Recent events
- 2020
LML factory and equipment dismantled[1]
Bankruptcy · Other
By August 2020, the Kanpur factory had reportedly been dismantled. Machinery, scooters and spare parts were scrapped, while some tooling was sold.
- 2017
LML issued insolvency notice[1]
Bankruptcy
LML issued a notice of insolvency on 2 June 2017, marking a late-stage development in the company’s prolonged financial difficulties.
- 2008
LML factory reopened after new financing[1]
Other
After obtaining financing from Credit Suisse and other institutions, LML reopened its factory on 8 March 2008 to manufacture geared Vespa-style scooters, primarily for export.
- 2008
K. K. Shangloo appointed special director[1]
Leadership change · Regulation
LML appointed K. K. Shangloo as a special director under the provisions of India’s Sick Industrial Companies legislation.
Sources2 sources
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