Auteco
Encyclopedia
Auteco is a Colombia
n motor vehicle manufacturer. It was the first motorcycle assembler in the country.
. It initially distributed spare parts and petrol.
In 1945 Auteco began importing American Indian
motorcycles. It then went on to import Excelsior
motorbikes, as well as vehicles produced by Nash
, Renault
and Gravely
.
In 1954 Auteco acquired the right to assemble and sell Lambretta
scooters in Colombia. These would later be assembled at a newly-built factory in Itagüí
, Antioquia, constructed in 1962.
These scooters were all badged Auteco Lambretta. They were based at various times on the Li and GP ranges, as well as Serveta
s. Many were hybrids, depending on what components were currently available. Production ceased at some time during the 1970s.
In 1972 Auteco formed a business partnership with Kawasaki to build its motorcycles under licence. This was expanded in the economic downturn of the late 1980s to include electrical generators and mowers.
In the early 1990s Auteco formed an additional business partnership with the Indian Bajaj
company and reintroduced scooters to Colombia. They also obtained a licence to sell the Bajaj auto rickshaw
.
Further expansion took place in 2003 when Auteco began importing Taiwanese Kymco
motorcycles.
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
n motor vehicle manufacturer. It was the first motorcycle assembler in the country.
History
Auteco was founded on 1 September 1941 in MedellínMedellín
Medellín , officially the Municipio de Medellín or Municipality of Medellín, is the second largest city in Colombia. It is in the Aburrá Valley, one of the more northerly of the Andes in South America. It has a population of 2.3 million...
. It initially distributed spare parts and petrol.
In 1945 Auteco began importing American Indian
Indian (motorcycle)
Indian is an American brand of motorcycles. Indian motorcycles were manufactured from 1901 to 1953 by a company in Springfield, Massachusetts, USA, initially known as the Hendee Manufacturing Company but which was renamed the Indian Manufacturing Company in 1928. The Indian factory team took the...
motorcycles. It then went on to import Excelsior
Excelsior Motor Company
Excelsior, based in Coventry, was a British bicycle, motorcycle and car maker. They were Britain’s first motorcycle manufacturer, starting production of their own ‘motor-bicycle’ in 1896...
motorbikes, as well as vehicles produced by Nash
Nash Motors
Also see: Kelvinator and American Motors CorporationNash Motors was an automobile manufacturer based in Kenosha, Wisconsin, in the United States from 1916 to 1938. From 1938 to 1954, Nash was the automotive division of the Nash-Kelvinator Corporation...
, Renault
Renault
Renault S.A. is a French automaker producing cars, vans, and in the past, autorail vehicles, trucks, tractors, vans and also buses/coaches. Its alliance with Nissan makes it the world's third largest automaker...
and Gravely
Gravely Tractor
Gravely, of Brillion, Wisconsin is a manufacturer of powered lawn and garden implements which it describes as "walk-behind, zero turn and outfront mowers".-Foundation:...
.
In 1954 Auteco acquired the right to assemble and sell Lambretta
Lambretta
Lambretta can refer to:* Lambretta, a petrol-powered scooter made by Innocenti* Lambretta , a clothing brand* Lambretta , a Swedish rock band* The Lambrettas, a British mod revival band...
scooters in Colombia. These would later be assembled at a newly-built factory in Itagüí
Itagüí
Itagüí is a town and municipality in Antioquia Department, Colombia. Itagüí is part of the Metropolitan Area of Medellín.Itagüí is known as the most industrialized city in all Colombia, therefore having the nickname, "La ciudad industrial"....
, Antioquia, constructed in 1962.
These scooters were all badged Auteco Lambretta. They were based at various times on the Li and GP ranges, as well as Serveta
Serveta
Serveta were a Spanish scooter manufacturer who were in production between 1954 and 1989.-History:In 1952 a group of Basque businessmen trading as Lambretta Locomociones SA obtained a licence to build Lambretta scooters in Spain. Production began two years later at purpose built factory in Eibar...
s. Many were hybrids, depending on what components were currently available. Production ceased at some time during the 1970s.
In 1972 Auteco formed a business partnership with Kawasaki to build its motorcycles under licence. This was expanded in the economic downturn of the late 1980s to include electrical generators and mowers.
In the early 1990s Auteco formed an additional business partnership with the Indian Bajaj
Bajaj Auto
Bajaj Auto is a major Indian vehicle manufacturer started by Jamnalal Bajaj from Rajasthan in the 1930s. It is based in Pune, Maharashtra, with plants in Chakan , Waluj and Pantnagar in Uttaranchal. The oldest plant at Akurdi now houses the R&D centre Ahead...
company and reintroduced scooters to Colombia. They also obtained a licence to sell the Bajaj auto rickshaw
Auto rickshaw
An auto rickshaw or three-wheeler is a usually three-wheeled cabin cycle for private use and as a vehicle for hire. It is a motorized version of the traditional pulled rickshaw or cycle rickshaw...
.
Further expansion took place in 2003 when Auteco began importing Taiwanese Kymco
Kymco
KYMCO KYMCO KYMCO (trade name for the Kwang Yang Motor Co, Ltd is a Taiwanese company that manufactures motor scooters, motorcycles, and ATVs for worldwide distribution. Founded in 1963, the company originally made parts for Honda. The company built its first complete scooter in 1970 and began...
motorcycles.
Models distributed by Auteco in 2010
- Bajaj Auto rickshaw
- Bajaj Boxer CT 100
- Bajaj Caliber 115
- Bajaj Discover 135Bajaj DiscoverThe Bajaj Discover is a motorcycle brand by Bajaj Auto. Currently there are two variants of Discover- Discover DTS-Si and Discover 150.The bike initially launched in the year 2004 has been a success in the Indian two Wheeler segment since then..-History:...
- Bajaj Platina 100Bajaj PlatinaBajaj Platina is a motorcycle built by Bajaj Auto. Currently there are two variants of Platina available with engine capacities of 100 and 125 cc. The 100 cc Platina was launched in April 2006 at an ex-showroom price of Rs 35,000 and crossed sales of 500,000 units within eight months of its launch...
- Bajaj PulsarBajaj Pulsar 220 DTS-iThe Pulsar 220 DTS-i is a motorcycle made by Bajaj in India beginning in 2009. It is the carbureted model of the same engine displacement that replaced the erstwhile fuel injected model, the Pulsar 220 DTS-Fi.- The Improvements on 220 DTSi:...
- Bajaj XCD 125
- Kawasaki Ninja 650RKawasaki Ninja 650RThe faired Kawasaki Ninja 650R, also known as the ER-6f, and its un-faired sister model ER-6n were introduced in 2006 by Kawasaki. They are middleweight, parallel-twin engined motorcycles, designed for normal use on paved roads. They have modern styling and features, with low-seating ergonomics, a...
- Kawasaki KMX 125
- Kawasaki VersysKawasaki VersysThe Kawasaki Versys, also known as the KLE650 is a middleweight motorcycle with a standard riding posture, introduced by Kawasaki to the European and Canadian markets at the end of 2006, and to the US market in 2007...
- Kawasaki ZX130
- Kawasaki Ninja 250RKawasaki Ninja 250RThe Kawasaki Ninja 250R is a motorcycle originally introduced by Kawasaki in 1983. As the marque's entry-level sport bike,...
- Kymco Activ 110
- Kymco Agility 125
- Kymco Agility RS 125
- Kymco Agility City 150
- Kymco Bet&Win 250