Martin Motors
An Italian vehicle manufacturer known for buses, commercial vehicles, rebadged passenger cars, and motorcycles.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Martin Motors S.p.A. was an Italian vehicle manufacturer headquartered in the Quinto de'Stampi district of Milan. Established by Giuseppe Martinelli, the company operated across several parts of the automotive industry, including buses, minibuses, commercial vehicles, passenger cars, and motorcycles. Its manufacturing and assembly activities included a plant in Tunisia, while the company’s identity and headquarters remained Italian. The company’s strongest business was historically its bus operation. Martin Motors became particularly visible in the mid-1990s through its Allestimenti Linea and Allestimenti Turismo coaches, which found acceptance among travel agencies. In 1997 it expanded its bus range with the Pulmann Urbani, and it also attempted to address the small-group transport market with the MiniBus. Bus production was described as the company’s largest source of revenue, with annual production reported at about 30,000 units, although the cited production-line capacity was 7,500 units per year. These figures appear in the historical reference material without a clearly specified reporting period. Martin Motors later sought a broader presence in passenger vehicles. In 2006 it introduced the Bubble, a Martin Motors rebadging of the Shuanghuan Noble microcar. The company presented the model as a front-engine, front-wheel-drive four-seat minicar, contrasting it with the rear-engine, rear-wheel-drive two-seat format associated with some established microcars. In 2007 Martin Motors marketed the CEO sport utility vehicle, based on the Shuanghuan CEO. BMW objected that the vehicle copied the design of the BMW E53, and the CEO became the first Martin Motors model sold throughout Europe. The company’s 2009 model initiative broadened the range further. It introduced the MM520 compact car and added several vehicles associated with Chinese manufacturers. These included the Changhe Ideal 1000, built under licence, the Changhe CoolCar minivan, and the Changhe Freedom pickup, which Martin Motors used to explore commercial-vehicle applications. The Freedom name was also associated with several truck configurations, including Duo, Mono, Cargo, and Tri versions. Motorcycles formed another significant part of the business. Martin Motors produced approximately ten motorcycle types using four-stroke engines ranging from 50 to 205 cubic centimetres. The motorcycles were described as meeting the Euro II emissions standard, and the company’s motorcycle production was reported at approximately 80,000 units annually, again without a clearly identified reporting period in the available reference. In 2012 Martin Motors added the MM620 to its product line. Martin Motors therefore developed as a diversified, relatively small vehicle manufacturer rather than as a conventional mass-market passenger-car brand. Its portfolio combined established coach expertise, licensed or rebadged vehicles, commercial transport products, and motorcycles. The strategy gave it exposure to multiple segments and markets, but the available material does not document sustained expansion, a major independent passenger-car platform, or a later corporate restructuring. On 15 January 2015, Martin Motors filed for bankruptcy. The filing marks the documented end of the company’s active corporate history in the supplied sources.
History
Martin Motors was an Italian vehicle manufacturer founded by Giuseppe Martinelli and based in Milan’s Quinto de'Stampi district. Its business covered buses, coaches, minibuses, commercial vehicles, passenger cars, and motorcycles. The company also operated an assembly plant in Tunisia, giving its manufacturing footprint an international dimension despite its Italian corporate base. The company’s best-established activity was bus manufacturing. During the mid-1990s, Martin Motors gained recognition for the Allestimenti Linea and Allestimenti Turismo coaches. These vehicles were reported to have been popular with travel agencies, indicating a role in organized passenger transport and tourism services. In 1997 Martin Motors extended its bus portfolio with the Pulmann Urbani. It also introduced the MiniBus in an effort to compete in the market for small group buses. Bus production was identified as the company’s principal source of revenue. The available historical account reports annual bus production of approximately 30,000 units and a production-line figure of 7,500 units per year, although it does not establish the dates or accounting basis for these figures. Martin Motors made its first documented effort to enter the passenger-car market in 2006. It marketed the Shuanghuan Noble small car under the Martin Motors name as the Bubble. The model was positioned as a four-seat minicar with a front engine and front-wheel drive. A company spokesperson contrasted this layout with the rear-engine, rear-wheel-drive configuration of some two-seat minicars, presenting the Bubble as a different approach to urban mobility. In 2007 the company introduced the CEO sport utility vehicle to European markets. The model was based on the Shuanghuan CEO and became the first Martin Motors model sold throughout Europe. Its styling attracted criticism from BMW, which alleged that it copied the appearance of the BMW E53. The dispute is an important part of the CEO’s public history, although the supplied source does not provide detailed litigation outcomes or financial consequences. Martin Motors pursued a wider model strategy beginning in 2009. The MM520 series one was positioned in the compact-car class. The company also built the Changhe Ideal 1000 under licence and marketed the Changhe CoolCar minivan. To enter or test the commercial-vehicle market, it brought forward the Changhe Freedom pickup, also described in a self-developed pickup-cab context. The Freedom range included Duo, Mono, Cargo, and Tri truck configurations. This mix of Martin-branded and licensed products suggests that the company used partnerships and rebadging alongside its own market development rather than relying exclusively on wholly original vehicle platforms. Motorcycles represented another substantial activity. Martin Motors produced around ten motorcycle types, using four-stroke engines with displacements from 50 to 205 cubic centimetres. The motorcycles were reported as complying with the Euro II emissions standard. Annual motorcycle output was given as approximately 80,000 units, and the company was described as serving a range of engine and automobile manufacturers. The source does not identify all motorcycle model names or the precise years covered by the production figure. In 2012, Martin Motors added the MM620 to its line-up. The company’s overall strategy was diversification across passenger transport, urban vehicles, commercial vehicles, and two-wheelers. Its historical visibility came primarily from coaches and buses, while its passenger-car efforts relied in part on vehicles sourced from or associated with Chinese manufacturers. The available record does not document a later successful transition into a large independent passenger-car producer. On 15 January 2015 Martin Motors filed for bankruptcy. No reliable information in the supplied material establishes a continuing successor brand, current owner, or active corporate operation after the filing.
- 2015
Bankruptcy filing
[1]Martin Motors filed for bankruptcy on 15 January 2015.
- 2012
Addition of the MM620
[1]Martin Motors added the MM620 to its vehicle line-up.
- 2009
Expansion into compact and commercial vehicles
[1]The company began a model initiative centered on the MM520 and added the licensed Ideal 1000, CoolCar minivan, and Freedom pickup range.
- 2007
European introduction of the CEO SUV
[1]Martin Motors marketed the Shuanghuan CEO-based sport utility vehicle, its first model sold throughout Europe.
- 2006
Entry into passenger cars with the Bubble
[1]The company entered the passenger-car market by marketing the Shuanghuan Noble small car under the Martin Motors Bubble name.
- 1997
Expansion of the urban bus range
[1]Martin Motors added the Pulmann Urbani to its bus portfolio and continued developing products for urban and group passenger transport.
Products and positioning
A diversified Italian vehicle manufacturer focused especially on buses and coaches, with later expansion into licensed or rebadged passenger vehicles, commercial vehicles, and motorcycles.
Coach
Allestimenti Linea
The Allestimenti Linea was one of Martin Motors’ best-known coach families during the company’s rise in the mid-1990s. The coaches were associated with travel-agency use and helped establish the company’s visibility in tourism and organized passenger transport. The supplied source does not specify detailed technical variants, chassis arrangements, or production dates beyond their prominence in the 1990s.
Touring coach
Allestimenti Turismo
The Allestimenti Turismo was a touring-oriented coach line that contributed to Martin Motors’ reputation among travel agencies. It formed part of the company’s core bus business, historically described as its largest revenue source. Available reference material does not provide a complete specification or identify the exact production run, but places the model family in the company’s mid-1990s period of recognition.
Urban bus · 1997
Pulmann Urbani
Introduced in 1997, the Pulmann Urbani expanded Martin Motors’ bus range toward urban passenger transport. It complemented the company’s tourism and coach offerings and reflected an attempt to serve multiple public and commercial transport applications. The supplied historical material does not state the model’s technical configuration, customers, or production total.
Minibus
MiniBus
The MiniBus was Martin Motors’ attempt to establish itself in the small group-bus market. It extended the company’s passenger-transport offering below its larger coach products and was intended for applications requiring a smaller vehicle. The available source does not provide seating capacity, powertrain information, or a precise introduction date.
Microcar · 2006
Bubble
The Bubble was introduced in 2006 as Martin Motors’ rebadged version of the Shuanghuan Noble. It was a small four-seat car with a front-mounted engine and front-wheel drive. Martin Motors used the model to make its first documented attempt at entering the passenger-car market and to distinguish its layout from rear-engine, rear-wheel-drive two-seat minicars.
Sport utility vehicle · 2007
CEO
The CEO was a sport utility vehicle based on the Shuanghuan CEO and marketed by Martin Motors from 2007. It was the first Martin Motors model described as being sold throughout Europe. The vehicle became controversial because BMW argued that its design copied the BMW E53. The available source does not provide complete sales data or the final legal disposition of the dispute.
Compact car · 2009
MM520
The MM520 series one was part of Martin Motors’ 2009 effort to broaden its passenger-car range. It was positioned in the compact class, placing it between the company’s microcar and larger utility-oriented products. The supplied reference does not identify its detailed mechanical specification, manufacturing location, sales volumes, or the number of body styles offered.
Passenger car · 2012
MM620
Added to the Martin Motors range in 2012, the MM620 represented a late expansion of the company’s passenger-vehicle offering. The reference material identifies the model and its introduction year but does not provide enough information to establish its body style, powertrain, market positioning, or production scale.
Microcar · 2009
Ideal 1000
The Ideal 1000 was built under licence from Changhe and included in Martin Motors’ broader model strategy. It gave the company another small-vehicle product without requiring the development of a fully independent platform. The supplied source does not specify the licensing agreement’s duration, markets, technical details, or production numbers.
Minivan · 2009
CoolCar
The CoolCar was a Changhe-associated minivan brought into Martin Motors’ range during the company’s 2009 model initiative. It supported Martin Motors’ attempt to move beyond coaches and into smaller multipurpose commercial and passenger vehicles. Specific seating, engine, assembly, and market details are not provided in the available reference.
Light commercial vehicle · 2009
Freedom Cab Duo, Mono, Cargo and Tri
The Freedom range comprised several pickup and light-truck configurations associated with Martin Motors’ effort to test the commercial-vehicle market. The listed variants included Duo, Mono, Cargo, and Tri versions, offering different cab or cargo arrangements. The reference does not provide payload ratings, engines, dimensions, or a definitive distinction between licensed and internally developed components.
Motorcycle
Motorcycle range
Martin Motors produced approximately ten motorcycle types using four-stroke engines with displacements from 50 to 205 cubic centimetres. The motorcycles were described as meeting Euro II emissions requirements. The company reportedly produced about 80,000 motorcycles annually, although the available account does not identify the measurement period, model names, manufacturing partners, or market-by-market distribution.
Brand decisions
2015
File for bankruptcyOtherBackground
After operating across buses, cars, commercial vehicles, and motorcycles, Martin Motors faced a formal insolvency event.
Action taken
Martin Motors filed for bankruptcy on 15 January 2015.
Aftermath
The filing is the last documented corporate event in the supplied source and supports classifying the company as defunct.
2012
Add the MM620Product launchBackground
Martin Motors continued expanding its passenger-vehicle line after its earlier compact-car and SUV initiatives.
Action taken
The company added the MM620 to its range.
Aftermath
The model was part of the company’s final documented period before its 2015 bankruptcy filing; no sales or production outcome is available in the supplied material.
2009
Broaden the model portfolio through licensed and rebadged vehiclesStrategyBackground
Martin Motors aimed to establish itself in compact cars, microcars, minivans, and commercial vehicles in addition to its established bus business.
Action taken
The company initiated the MM520 series and added the licensed Ideal 1000, the CoolCar minivan, and the Freedom pickup range.
Aftermath
The initiative diversified the product range, but the supplied material does not document its financial performance or long-term market results.
2007
Launch the CEO SUV in EuropeProduct launchBackground
Martin Motors sought wider European exposure and expanded from small cars into the sport utility vehicle segment.
Action taken
It marketed the Shuanghuan CEO-based vehicle as the Martin Motors CEO and sold it throughout Europe.
Aftermath
BMW objected that the vehicle copied the BMW E53 design. The available source does not establish the final legal outcome.
- BMW — BMW alleged that the CEO copied the design of its E53 sport utility vehicle.
2006
Enter the passenger-car market with the BubbleProduct launchBackground
Martin Motors had an established bus and coach business but sought to enter the passenger-car market, particularly the small-car segment.
Action taken
The company marketed the Shuanghuan Noble small car under the Martin Motors Bubble name.
Aftermath
The Bubble became the company’s first documented passenger-car-market initiative, but the supplied sources do not provide sales or commercial-outcome data.
Recent events
- 2015
Martin Motors files for bankruptcy[1]
Bankruptcy
Martin Motors filed for bankruptcy on 15 January 2015, ending the documented operating history of the Italian vehicle manufacturer.
- 2012
Martin Motors adds the MM620[1]
Product launch
The company added the MM620 to its vehicle range as part of its continuing expansion beyond buses and coaches.
BMW challenges the Martin Motors CEO[1]
Lawsuit
BMW objected to the Martin Motors CEO, arguing that its design copied the BMW E53 sport utility vehicle.
Sources1 sources
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