Kymco is a Taiwanese brand that have been making motorcycles, ATV's, and side-by-sides for several decades now. Its scooters are reliable and affordable, and what's more interesting, they have their own style and unique applications for what they are. Not many brands make scooters for adventure riding, for instance. Kymco Scooters are known for their quality and especially by the huge variety of models available in its lineup.
Whether customers are looking for a small displacement, affordable commuter, or a peppy, powerful model for long distance riding, Kymco will likely have something that fits just right for them. Revenues for the scooter market in the United States are expected to reach $138.70 million in 2023. That's a whole lot of scooters sold, and Kymco has been attacking the U.S. market hard, wanting an ever bigger slice of the pie. There are scooters seem to offer good value for the money, and they can compete toe to toe with well-known brands such as Honda, Yamaha and Vespa.
All Kymco scooters technical specifications and model features in this article were provided by Kymco. Statistical data regarding market size was sourced from Statista.com. Other authoritative sites such as www.hotcars.com were used to gather information about the company's history.
10 Kymco Used To Produce Engines For BMW Scooters
BMW's maxi scooters of old, the C 600 Sport in the C 650 GT, used Kymco engines. If BMW's high standards of quality and performance aren't enough to attest to their engineering capabilities, then perhaps Kymco's worldwide projected revenue of $1.32 billion in 2023 might suffice. These Kymco powered BMW scooters used a 647cc engine that produced a claimed 60 horsepower and 49 pound-feet of torque. Since then, BMW has shifted focus to electric scooters, but the fact remains that the partnership with Kymco was fruitful for both companies.
9 Their Scooters Are Distributed Exclusively In The U.S. By Kymco USA Inc.
Kymco USA has concentrated its sales, marketing, and distribution in Spartanburg, SC. Kymco USA has a network of over 500 dealers that they serve nationwide, which helps build the brand's reputation and increase its market share by offering superior value, innovative products, and nationwide geographical support. Kymco also promotes events for its enthusiasts, has a history of supporting racing sports, and continuously seeks new strategic industry partnerships with other renowned brands.
8 Kymco Offers A Wide Range Of Scooters
From the affordable Agility to the AK550 luxury scooter, Kymco has a wide range of scooters to offer to the U.S. market.
Kymco's USA 2023 Model Lineup And Pricing
| Model | MSRP |
| Agility 50 | $1,999.00 |
| Super 8 50X | $2,199.00 |
| Like 150i ABS | $3,099.00 |
| Like 150i ABS Noodoe | $3,499.00 |
| People S 150i ABS | $3,749.00 |
| X-Town 300i ABS | $5,099.00 |
| AK 550i ABS | $10,399.00 |
| CV3 | $11,999.00 |
From a total of eight different models, each with unique characteristics, and a wide range of prices, there is a Kymko model for most tastes and pockets. Their scooters come with a 24-month unlimited miles warranty, something that customers find very valuable. As a trivia, there is a common misconception about Kymko's scooters. Some people think they are built by Honda. While Kymco was originally a parts supplier for Honda, they eventually broke off with the Japanese giant and followed their own path.
7 They Have A Three-Wheeled Scooter
Remember the Yamaha Niken? Well, Kymco decided to use that idea and implement it in one of its scooters. Its top of the line CV3 scooter, priced at a starting MSRP of $11,999 is a three-wheeler scooter using pretty much the same basic technology the Yamaha Nikki did. This CV3 is marketed by Kymco as a touring scooter, boasting a perfect blend of style in functionality. For that price tag you get a full TFT dashboard, full LED lightning, cruise control, heated grips, and a DOHC 4-stroke inline two-cylinder engine.
Kymco CV3 Engine Specifications
| Engine Type | DOHC, 4-Stroke, 8V, inline twin |
| Displacement | 550.4cc |
| Bore x Stroke | 69mm x 73.6mm |
| Compression Ratio | 11:1 |
| Output | 51 horsepower @ 7,500 RPM |
| Torque | 40.6 pound-feet @ 5,750 RPM |
| Fuel Management System | Fuel Injection with dual power modes |
| Cooling | Liquid |
| Ignition | Electronic |
It's true that for that price range, there are a lot of great motorcycles in the U.S. market today. But Kycko is currently the only manufacturer that offers this three-wheeled configuration, since the Yamaha Niken is not currently available on Yamaha's USA lineup, even though it is still sold in European markets.
6 The Brand Has Been Around Since 1963
Kymco stands for Kwang Yang Motor Company, and it was founded in 1963 in Taiwan. In 1992 the brand expanded to the world market. Today, the Kymco Group has over 3,800 employees, and the brand consistently secured the number one place in sales in its country of origin, Taiwan for 19 years, ranging between 1999 and 2018. The brand has a firm dedication and responsibility to its customers and continuously seeks ways to improve upon its products. Kymco has the goal to reach quality levels that go beyond international standards. Today, Kymco market its products to over 110 countries all over the world, spamming across the five continents.
5 Strong Presence In Asia And Europe
Small displacement motorcycles and scooters find a fertile market in several other countries outside the USA. One of the main reasons for that is linked to pricing, fuel efficiency, but most importantly, the fact that lane splitting is legal in most other countries around the globe. Not to mention the fact that the roads are usually narrower than the ones found Stateside, and smaller, lighter bikes make it easier on the rider to get away from traffic.
Kymco's Certifications
- Certified ISO9001 : 2000 (1994.06.04)
- National Quality Award (1996.10.02)
- Certified ISO13485(2003.03.19)
- National Standardization Award (2003.10.27)
- Certified ISO14001 (2004.03.11)
- Medical Equipment License (2004.04.05)
- Certificate of OHSAS18001(2005.05.12)
- The First Classification Award by JIPM(2006.02.16)
- Certificate of GMP
- Excellent Industrial Technology Development Award
- Self-brand Creation and for Outstanding Performance in Export
- National Outstanding Firm in Labor Harmony
Being a quality brand that continuously strives to improve itself, it comes as no surprise that Kymco's presence in Europe and Asia is significant.
4 Kymco Bought A Stake In H-D's LiveWire To Form A Strategic Partnership
Companies don't successfully persist over a span of several decades without having a keen eye for what the market wants and where it is going. Looking into its future, Kymco has bought a $100 million stake in Harley Davidson's Livewire in order to form a partnership for the development of electric motorcycles. This move market the start of LiveWire being publicly traded at the New York Stock Exchange under the LVWR ticker.
This partnership created the first publicly traded EV motorcycle company in the US. For Harley-Davidson, the importance of this partnership is significant as they aim to continue to innovate and develop the future of electric motorcycling, while staying ahead of the competition.
3 Some Of Their Scooters Have Unique And Distinctive Designs
The CV3 three-wheeler is a prime example of this, But most of their scooters have very characteristic designs, and sometimes that goes beyond the looks. The KRV model, for example, was the world's first compact scooter to feature an independent rear swing arm, the DT X360 was the world's first adventure crossover scooter, and they even made the F9, the world's first electric motorcycle equipped with a two-speed transmission. Taking bold steps and focusing on innovation seems to be a core value at Kymco, and undoubtedly one of the reasons for its continued success.
2 The Brand Is Committed To Safety And Rider Education
More than a decade ago, Kymco motorcycles were selected for the state of Minnesota motorcycle training program. Winning this bid was important for Kymco in order for the brand to reinforce its commitment to rider safety. They've been steadily and surely building up their reputation Stateside. This particular bidding process evaluated quality, performance, and price. Kymco also sells All Terrain Vehicles (ATVs), and their website has a full section containing a list of documents concerning ATV training, safety, and operation. This kind of concern and support for its customers is unusual in the industry that often seems to steer away from their shared responsibility to rider safety.
1 There's An Electric Scooter Overseas
Electric scooters are about to become all the rage, possibly sooner than what one might expect. Kymco has electric scooters available in other markets, and its collaboration with LiveWire could mean they already have something cooking to bring Stateside when the market is ready for it. They've already developed the world's first electric scooter with two-speed transmission, and they've proven that they are an innovative brand that is not afraid to take risks in bringing something new to the market. Time will tell, but we might be hearing a lot more about Kymco in the near future.