Mego

Mego was a Greek light-vehicle manufacturer established in Trikala by Nikos Gorgolis. The business began in 1947 with utility tricycles and expanded in 1951 into motorized utility tricycles powered by small 50–100cc engines. Some of its early vehicles used an unusual layout in which the single wheel was positioned at the rear. The company initially marketed its products under the name Nigo, derived from its founder's name. In 1962, the business was partly sold to the Greek vehicle manufacturer MEBEA. The transaction led to the adoption of the Mego name, formed from elements of MEBEA and Gorgolis, and coincided with the introduction of more conventional light three-wheel trucks. The Gorgolis family recovered full ownership in 1967 but retained the Mego brand. Under the family-owned structure, Mego developed a broad range of small-capacity vehicles, including 50cc mopeds, motorcycles, light three-wheel trucks, and bicycles. Its products mainly used Sachs engines, and the company also introduced a 125cc motorcycle in 1968. Mego became known for compact vehicles and distinctive styling. Its model range included the 50S series, EK, Libra, Viva, and the technically and visually distinctive GP50 Carrera. The company served both private and institutional users in Greece. Customers reportedly included the Hellenic Police, the Hellenic Post, and the Hellenic Telecommunications Organization, indicating that its utility vehicles had applications in public-service and commercial fleets. Mego also exported vehicles, particularly to the Netherlands. The company encountered increasing difficulty in the late 1980s, when competition from imported second-hand motorcycles weakened the market for domestically produced light vehicles. Motorcycle production ended in 1988. Mego continued operating until 1992, primarily maintaining its existing products and supplying replacement parts. It was subsequently renamed Gorgolis S.A., shifting away from vehicle manufacturing toward motorcycle importation and distribution. From 1992, the wider Gorgolis operation also pursued international motorcycle activities through subsidiaries or associated operations in Japan, the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, and China. A later brand called Nipponia was created for Greek-designed, Chinese-built motorcycles. Nipponia was managed from Athens for design, engineering, marketing, and quality control, while production was carried out in Shanghai. This later activity belongs to the successor or related Gorgolis business rather than to the original Mego manufacturing operation. Mego is therefore best understood as a historical Greek motorcycle and light-vehicle brand whose production era ended in the late twentieth century.

Mego's history began in 1947 in Trikala, Greece, where Nikos Gorgolis established a business producing utility tricycles. The earliest vehicles were sold under the Nigo name, which referenced the founder. In 1951, the company added motorized utility tricycles using engines in the 50–100cc range. These early products included an unconventional configuration with the lone wheel at the rear, reflecting the company's willingness to experiment with compact commercial-vehicle layouts. A major corporate change took place in 1962, when MEBEA acquired a partial interest in the business. The company then adopted the Mego name, combining references to MEBEA and Gorgolis. The ownership change was accompanied by a move toward conventional light three-wheel trucks. In 1967, the Gorgolis family regained complete ownership, although the Mego identity was retained and continued to be used for the company's vehicles. During the following decades, Mego became one of Greece's notable producers of small motorcycles and utility vehicles. It developed numerous 50cc mopeds and motorcycles, light three-wheel trucks, and bicycles, generally using Sachs power units. The company also entered the 125cc motorcycle segment in 1968. Its products were distinguished by compact dimensions, practical utility, and, in several cases, unconventional styling. The 50S family, EK, Libra, Viva, and GP50 Carrera were among the better-known names associated with the brand. The GP50 Carrera in particular was noted for its novel design. Mego's customer base extended beyond individual riders. Its vehicles were used by Greek public and institutional organizations, including the police, the national postal service, and the national telecommunications organization. The business also achieved export sales, especially in the Netherlands. This combination of domestic institutional demand and overseas distribution gave Mego a broader role than that of a purely local motorcycle assembler. The company entered a period of decline in the late 1980s. Competition from imported used motorcycles placed pressure on Greek manufacturers and reduced the commercial viability of locally produced small vehicles. Mego ended motorcycle production in 1988. It remained active until 1992, but its principal activities during the final period involved servicing vehicles and providing parts rather than building new motorcycles. After the manufacturing operation ended, the company was renamed Gorgolis S.A. and developed into an importer and distributor of motorcycles. From 1992 onward, the broader enterprise pursued international ventures involving Japan, the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, and China. It later created the Nipponia brand for motorcycles designed in Greece and manufactured in China. Nipponia's later organization was based in Athens, with design, engineering, marketing, and quality-control responsibilities separated from manufacturing in Shanghai. These successor activities explain the continuing motorcycle involvement of the Gorgolis business, but they should not be conflated with the original Mego production brand.

• 1992

  Manufacturing operation winds down

  [1]Mego (motorbikes)en.wikipedia.org

  Mego ceased its remaining operational activities as a manufacturer and was renamed Gorgolis S.A., focusing on motorcycle importation, distribution, servicing, and related international ventures.

• 1988

  Motorcycle production ends

  [1]Mego (motorbikes)en.wikipedia.org

  Motorcycle manufacturing ceased amid pressure from competition, including imported second-hand vehicles.

• 1968

  125cc motorcycle launched

  [1]Mego (motorbikes)en.wikipedia.org

  Mego expanded beyond its predominantly 50cc range with the introduction of a 125cc motorcycle.

• 1967

  Gorgolis family regains full ownership

  [1]Mego (motorbikes)en.wikipedia.org

  The Gorgolis family recovered complete ownership while continuing to operate under the Mego name.

• 1962

  Partial sale to MEBEA and adoption of Mego name

  [1]Mego (motorbikes)en.wikipedia.org

  MEBEA acquired a partial interest, the business adopted the Mego name, and conventional light three-wheel trucks were introduced.

• 1951

  Motorized utility tricycles introduced

  [1]Mego (motorbikes)en.wikipedia.org

  The company began making motorized utility tricycles with engines ranging from approximately 50cc to 100cc, including an unusual rear-single-wheel configuration.

• 1947

  Business established in Trikala

  [1]Mego (motorbikes)en.wikipedia.org

  Nikos Gorgolis established the Greek light-vehicle business that initially produced utility tricycles under the Nigo name.

A Greek small-vehicle manufacturer focused on practical, compact, and relatively affordable motorcycles, mopeds, bicycles, and utility three-wheelers, with an emphasis on unusual engineering and locally developed designs.

• Utility vehicle · 1947

  Utility tricycles

  Mego's first products were utility tricycles introduced from 1947. They established the company's initial focus on compact vehicles intended for practical transport and commercial use.

• Utility vehicle · 1951

  Motorized utility tricycles

  Introduced in 1951, these small motorized tricycles used 50–100cc engines. Early examples included an unusual design with the single wheel at the rear, distinguishing Mego from more conventional three-wheel layouts.

• Moped

  50S series

  The 50S series formed part of Mego's extensive small-capacity moped range. It represented the brand's focus on lightweight, economical motorcycles for the Greek market and selected export destinations.

• Moped or motorcycle

  EK

  The EK was one of Mego's named small-capacity motorcycle models. It belonged to the company's broader portfolio of compact vehicles, many of which used Sachs engines and distinctive styling.

• Moped or motorcycle

  Libra

  Libra was a Mego model within the company's range of 50cc-class mopeds and motorcycles. Detailed production specifications and launch information are not established in the cited reference material.

• Moped or motorcycle

  Viva

  Viva was another named Mego model associated with the manufacturer's small-displacement motorcycle program. It is recorded as part of the brand's innovative and varied model range.

• Moped

  GP50 Carrera

  The GP50 Carrera was a particularly distinctive Mego 50cc model. It is remembered for its novel design and illustrates the company's effort to differentiate its mopeds through styling and engineering rather than relying only on conventional layouts.

• Motorcycle · 1968

  125cc motorcycle

  Mego introduced a 125cc motorcycle in 1968, expanding its offering beyond the 50cc-focused products that made up much of its earlier range.

• Bicycle

  Bicycles

  Bicycles were among the products produced by Mego during its broader light-vehicle manufacturing period. The available reference does not identify individual bicycle models.

• 1992

  Transition from manufacturing to distributionStrategy

  Background

  Following the end of Mego production, the Gorgolis business retained involvement in motorcycles through commercial and international activities.

  Action taken

  The company was renamed Gorgolis S.A. and shifted its focus toward motorcycle importation and distribution, later supporting the Nipponia venture.

  Aftermath

  The later Gorgolis operation developed motorcycles designed in Greece and built in China under the Nipponia brand.

  Source

• 1988

  End of motorcycle manufacturingStrategy

  Background

  The company faced growing pressure from competition by imported second-hand motorcycles and other market conditions affecting Greek production.

  Action taken

  Mego stopped manufacturing motorcycles while continuing for a period to service vehicles and supply replacement parts.

  Aftermath

  The business remained active until 1992 and was subsequently renamed Gorgolis S.A., concentrating on motorcycle importing and distribution.

  Source

• 1962

  Rebrand and expand into conventional light three-wheelersStrategy

  Background

  A partial sale to MEBEA changed the company's ownership structure and provided the context for a new identity and product direction.

  Action taken

  The company adopted the Mego name and introduced conventional light three-wheel trucks alongside its earlier utility-tricycle activities.

  Aftermath

  The Mego name was retained after the Gorgolis family regained full ownership in 1967 and became the identity associated with the company's later motorcycles and mopeds.

  Source

1. 1Mego (motorbikes)en.wikipedia.org