Founded in 1950 by Giovanni Castiglioni in Varese, Cagiva originally producing small metal components. It went into the motorcycle industry in 1978. The name is a portmanteau derived from the founder and the founding location, i.e. CAstiglioni GIovanni VArese. In 1999 for strategic purposes, the company got restructured. MV Agusta Motor became the main brand comprising of Cagiva. The company currently operates under the name MV Agusta Motor S.p.A. but remains under the ownership of Harley Davidson and Giovanni's sons, Claudio and Gianfranco Castiglioni.
"Motorcycles make us dream. They have different colours, they have different sounds. They have shapes that sometimes show what inspired their designers. Sometimes these creations are real works of art that turn the designer into an artist."
