Di Blasi Industriale

Di Blasi Industriale is an Italian manufacturer based in Vizzini, Sicily, specializing in folding personal-transportation products. Its range has included folding bicycles, adult tricycles, mopeds, and electric mobility scooters. The company’s central design proposition is compactness: its vehicles are engineered to fold into forms that can be transported in a car, boat, or aircraft, extending their usefulness beyond ordinary bicycle or scooter travel. Production and product development are described as being carried out in-house, giving the brand a relatively integrated manufacturing profile. The company’s origins go back to Rosario Di Blasi, who began developing a folding scooter in 1952. The concept evolved over several years into a folding three-wheeled vehicle. In 1968, a prototype known as the DIBLA 7, powered by a Zanetti engine, was presented at the Turin Auto Show. Commercial production began in 1974 with the R2 folding moped, also known as the Paperino, which used a Franco Morini engine and a single-speed transmission. In the same year, Di Blasi introduced the Avia folding bicycle, beginning a long sequence of compact bicycle designs. The R2 was replaced in 1979 by the R7, a more advanced folding moped using an engine designed by Di Blasi and a multispeed transmission. The R7 platform was subsequently refined and continued in production as the R7E. The vehicle found unusual institutional and commercial applications. It was used by the Polizia Stradale, the traffic-policing division of the Italian National Police, aboard helicopters, where a compact ground vehicle could be deployed after landing. Outside Italy, the R7 was marketed in some markets as the Express and was adopted by chauffeur services that carried the folded vehicle in a car and unfolded it to complete short customer journeys. Di Blasi’s bicycle line developed through multiple generations after the Avia, including the R20, R50, R6, R4, R5, R21, R24, and R22. The company has emphasized small folded dimensions and practical portability throughout this succession. The Avia is also notable for being associated with the development of early folding pedals, an important feature for reducing the overall folded profile of a bicycle. The company expanded into three-wheeled adult mobility products in 2000 with the R32 folding tricycle and its electric counterpart, the R34. These products broadened the addressable market beyond conventional bicycle users, including adults seeking additional stability and people with minor mobility limitations. In 2012, Di Blasi added the R30 electric mobility scooter, designed to fold automatically at the press of a button. This reinforced the brand’s focus on convenience, storage, and transport rather than on high-performance sporting use. Di Blasi Industriale occupies a specialized position in the personal-mobility equipment market. Its products are aimed at users who need a vehicle that can be stored or carried easily, including travelers, boat owners, motorhome users, service operators, and adults with modest mobility needs. The brand’s history is characterized by incremental development of folding mechanisms across several vehicle categories rather than by a single product family. Publicly available reference material identifies the company as an operating manufacturer, but does not establish a current ownership structure, revenue profile, executive roster, or official corporate website.

Di Blasi Industriale traces its origins to Rosario Di Blasi’s work on a folding scooter, which began in 1952. The early objective was to create a powered vehicle that could be reduced substantially in size for transport and storage. Over the following years, the concept developed into a folding three-wheeled vehicle. A prototype called the DIBLA 7, fitted with a Zanetti power unit, was displayed at the Turin Auto Show in 1968. This public presentation marked an important stage in the transition from experimental development to a recognizable product concept. In 1974 the company entered production with the R2 folding moped, also known as the Paperino. The model used a Franco Morini engine and a single-speed transmission. That same year Di Blasi introduced the Avia folding bicycle, establishing a second product category around the same portability principle. The bicycle became the starting point for a succession of compact folding designs rather than a short-lived one-off model. The R2 was succeeded in 1979 by the R7. Compared with its predecessor, the R7 incorporated an engine of Di Blasi’s own design and a multispeed transmission. The platform was repeatedly improved and ultimately continued as the R7E. Its compact format supported specialized uses: the vehicle was used by Italy’s Polizia Stradale aboard helicopters, allowing officers to have a small road vehicle available after aerial deployment. International distributors and operators also used the vehicle in chauffeur services, where it could be folded into a car and deployed to meet or transport customers. In at least some overseas markets, the R7 was sold under the name Express. The bicycle program evolved through several model generations. After the Avia came the R20 in 1980, the R50 in 1984, the R6 in 1991, and the R4 in 1995, followed by the R5, R21 with 20-inch wheels, R24, and R22. Across these models, the company retained an emphasis on reducing folded size and making the bicycle practical to carry in private and commercial transport. The Avia is particularly associated with the use of folding pedals, which helped reduce the space occupied by the folded bicycle. In 2000 Di Blasi broadened its product portfolio with folding adult tricycles. The R32 provided a stable three-wheel format, while the electric R34 adapted the concept for powered assistance. These products made the brand relevant to users for whom balance, stability, or reduced physical effort mattered more than conventional bicycle performance. The stated target group included adults and people with minor mobility problems. The next major product expansion came in 2012 with the R30 electric mobility scooter. Its defining feature was fully automatic folding activated by a button, simplifying storage and preparation for transport. The R30 extended Di Blasi’s folding philosophy into a mobility-aid category and complemented the company’s existing bicycles, tricycles, and mopeds. The company is based in Vizzini, Sicily, and reference material describes its vehicles as designed and manufactured entirely in-house. Its historical identity rests on combining mechanical mobility with compact folding systems. Rather than competing primarily through speed or sporting specialization, Di Blasi has developed products for portability, multimodal transport, storage efficiency, and practical short-distance movement. Public reference material does not provide reliable details about its incorporation date, ownership, leadership, financial performance, or current distribution structure.

• 2012

  R30 electric mobility scooter introduced

  [1]Di Blasi Industrialeen.wikipedia.org

  The company entered the electric mobility-scooter category with the R30, which folds automatically at the press of a button.

• 2000

  Folding adult tricycles added

  [1]Di Blasi Industrialeen.wikipedia.org

  Di Blasi began producing folding adult tricycles, including the R32 and electric R34.

• 1980

  R20 bicycle generation introduced

  [1]Di Blasi Industrialeen.wikipedia.org

  The R20 became the next identified generation in the company’s folding-bicycle development after the Avia.

• 1979

  R7 replaces the R2

  [1]Di Blasi Industrialeen.wikipedia.org

  The R7 replaced the R2 with a Di Blasi-designed engine and multispeed transmission, later evolving into the R7E.

• 1974

  R2 folding moped enters production

  [1]Di Blasi Industrialeen.wikipedia.org

  Di Blasi began producing the R2, also called the Paperino, with a Franco Morini engine and single-speed transmission.

• 1974

  Avia folding bicycle introduced

  [1]Di Blasi Industrialeen.wikipedia.org

  The company introduced the Avia folding bicycle, associated with the development of folding pedals.

• 1968

  DIBLA 7 prototype shown in Turin

  [1]Di Blasi Industrialeen.wikipedia.org

  A Zanetti-powered folding tricycle prototype known as the DIBLA 7 was presented at the Turin Auto Show.

• 1952

  Folding-scooter development begins

  [1]Di Blasi Industrialeen.wikipedia.org

  Founder Rosario Di Blasi began developing a folding scooter, establishing the technical direction that later defined the company’s product range.

A specialist Italian mobility-equipment manufacturer focused on highly compact, transportable vehicles for travel, storage convenience, service applications, and light mobility support.

• Folding moped · 1979

  R7E

  The R7E is the developed successor to the R7 folding moped. The R7 platform replaced the earlier R2 in 1979 and introduced a Di Blasi-designed engine together with a multispeed transmission. Its folding construction supports transport in a car and has also enabled specialist uses, including deployment from police helicopters and service use by chauffeur operators. In some international markets, the R7 has been sold under the name Express.

• Folding bicycle · 1974

  Avia

  The Avia was Di Blasi’s first identified folding-bicycle model and was introduced in 1974. It is notable for being associated with the development of folding pedals, an important feature for minimizing the bicycle’s folded dimensions. The Avia established the design direction for later compact bicycles including the R20, R50, R6, R4, R5, R21, R24, and R22.

• Folding bicycle

  R22

  The R22 belongs to Di Blasi’s later sequence of compact folding bicycles. Like the company’s other bicycle generations, it is designed around portability and a reduced folded profile, making it suitable for users who need to carry or store a bicycle in limited spaces. Public reference material identifies it as part of the model progression following the Avia, R20, R50, R6, R4, R5, R21, and R24.

• Folding adult tricycle · 2000

  R32

  The R32 is a folding adult tricycle introduced as part of Di Blasi’s expansion into three-wheel personal mobility. Its three-wheel configuration is intended to provide greater stability than a conventional bicycle, while the folding mechanism preserves the brand’s emphasis on transport and storage. The product is aimed at adults and users who may benefit from a more stable platform, including people with minor mobility limitations.

• Electric folding adult tricycle · 2000

  R34

  The R34 is the electric version of Di Blasi’s folding adult-tricycle concept. It combines a three-wheel layout with powered assistance and a foldable structure, addressing users who want additional stability and reduced pedaling effort without giving up transportability. The model forms part of the company’s move beyond conventional bicycles and mopeds into broader mobility equipment.

• Electric mobility scooter · 2012

  R30

  Introduced in 2012, the R30 is an electric mobility scooter designed to fold fully automatically when the user presses a button. Its principal value proposition is ease of storage and transport rather than high-speed travel. The product extends Di Blasi’s established folding technology into mobility assistance and is intended for adults and people with minor mobility problems who need a convenient compact vehicle.

• 2012

  Launch of the R30 electric mobility scooterProduct launch

  Background

  The company sought to apply its compact-folding approach to mobility equipment for adults and people with minor mobility limitations.

  Action taken

  Di Blasi introduced the R30, an electric scooter that folds automatically at the press of a button.

  Aftermath

  The R30 broadened the company’s offering from cycling and powered recreational transport into electric mobility support.

  Source

• 2000

  Expansion into adult tricyclesStrategy

  Background

  Di Blasi extended its folding-vehicle expertise beyond two-wheel bicycles and mopeds.

  Action taken

  The company introduced folding adult tricycles through the R32 and electric R34.

  Aftermath

  The product range became more relevant to users seeking stability and light mobility assistance.

  Source

• 1979

  Replacement of the R2 by the R7Generation change

  Background

  The first production folding moped was superseded by a platform intended to provide more capability.

  Action taken

  Di Blasi introduced the R7 with an in-house-designed engine and multispeed transmission.

  Aftermath

  The R7 became a long-running platform that was progressively improved and continued as the R7E.

  Source

• 1974

  Launch of the R2 folding mopedProduct launch

  Background

  After more than two decades of folding-scooter development, Di Blasi moved from prototypes to commercial production.

  Action taken

  The company introduced the R2, also known as the Paperino, using a Franco Morini engine and a single-speed transmission.

  Aftermath

  The R2 established the company as a producer of powered folding vehicles and was later replaced by the more advanced R7.

  Source

1. 1Di Blasi Industrialeen.wikipedia.org