Zanella Motor Global Sales Performance is rebounding.In the first half of 2025 sales are boosting 54.7% reaching 30.472 units thanks to the outstanding performance in the domestic Argentinian market.
Zanella Global Sales Performance
Zanella Motor, a well-established Argentine brand founded in 1948, has made a truly dramatic comeback after being on the verge of bankruptcy few years ago.
Following the sharp fall suffered in 2020 when sales declines at just 17K and the company was very close to end its long travel, following the covid 19 emergency a rapid recovery is in place with sales surged back in the range of 50k in the period 2022-2024.
In the first half of 2025 sales are boosting 54.7% reaching 30.472 units thanks to the outstanding performance in the domestic Argentinian market and even for the double-digit growth in Uruguay.
Zanella Motor History and Heritage
The company was founded by Italian brothers Juan and Santiago Zanella together with Ariodante Marcer and Mario De Lásica, who had emigrated from Italy shortly after the end of World War 2. The company was named Zanella Hermanos.
Zanella Hermanos began by producing car parts and accessories for Fiat and Peugeot. In 1957 it established a factory at Caseros in Buenos Aires after entering a licencing agreement with Italian motorcycle manufacturer Ceccato. Motorcycle production began with 100cc and 125cc models using an engine designed by famed Ducati engineer Fabio Taglioni. Many of the components were made in the Caseros factory.
A contract with Italian manufacturer Piaggio was signed in 1970 and by the end of the 1980s the Argentine company was exporting scooters to many South American countries, as well as North America and Africa.
In 1990 Zanelli partnered with Yamaha and began producing Moto Minarelli-powered machines. (Minarelli was owned by Yamaha in that period). It continued that up to 1999 when the company got into financial trouble.
Swiss engineer Walter Steiner took control of the company, acquiring 51% of the shares. Soon his family owned 100% of the company. Steiner was voted CEO in September 1999.
Seven years later, Zanella was Number One in ATV sales in Argentina and by 2010 it was the motorcycle sales leader, its range of locally manufactured motorcycles rounded out with imported Chinese machines assembled at its Buenos Aires plants.
The company later branched out into the white goods sector, under the brand name Ariston-Zanella.
Zanella celebrated its 70th anniversary in 2018 with all historical and current dealers invited to the party. As part of its 70th celebrations, the company made a splash with a big stand at the first Salon Moto Argentina in Buenos Aires.
During more than 75 years of operations, Zanella has produced some 2.5 million motorcycles.
Located in Caseros, near Buenos Aires, the company operates with two plants, one in Caseros and one in San Luis.
Zanella produces a wide range of products, including scooters, commuter motorcycles, quads. However, only the mopeds are manufactured in Argentina, at its plants in Caseros and San Luis; while almost all other products are imported; usually in the form of knock-down kits, from leading Chinese manufacturer CF Moto.
In an acknowledgement of its history, it also produces a range of retro-styled machines under the Ceccato name, harking back to the company’s roots.
Author: Michael Esdaile