About Us

The Genuine Story

Genuine Scooters has been one of America's most recognized scooter brands for more than two decades and the story behind it is as distinctly American as the riders we serve.

Founded in Chicago in 2002 by Phillip McCaleb, Genuine Scooters grew directly out of Scooterworks USA, one of the country's largest scooter parts businesses. When McCaleb couldn't secure the U.S. distribution rights he had long been promised by a major European scooter manufacturer, he didn't wait — he went directly to LML of India, a former Piaggio manufacturing partner, and built a scooter brand from the ground up. That first model, the Stella, launched for the 2003 model year and set the tone for everything that followed: classic styling, real performance, and a price point that made two-wheel riding accessible to everyday Americans.

By 2014, Genuine had grown into the third-largest scooter brand in the United States by unit sales, ranking behind only Honda and Yamaha. That milestone didn't happen by accident. It happened because Genuine took a fundamentally different approach to the market — working directly alongside manufacturers in India and Taiwan on product development, specifications, and market-specific tuning rather than simply importing finished vehicles. The result was a lineup built for American riders, not just adapted for them.

Today, Genuine operates through a nationwide network of more than 240 authorized dealers and offers one of the most diverse two-wheeled lineups in the country. Our gas-powered scooter lineup spans 50cc to 300cc and includes beloved models like the Buddy, Buddy Kick, Roughhouse, Hooligan, Rattler, Urbano, and the Royal Alloy Grand Tourer and Grand Prix. In 2018 we expanded into motorcycles with the G400C under the Genuine Motorcycles banner. In 2019 we became the U.S. distribution partner for NIU Technologies, bringing smart electric sit-down scooters with app connectivity, GPS tracking, and regenerative braking to our dealer network. We have since introduced our own branded electric lineup including eBikes, eScooters, and eMopeds under the Genuine name, and launched Chicago Scooter Company as a sister brand offering accessible entry-level options for new riders.

Every Genuine Scooter is backed by industry-leading support including our 2 or 3-year unlimited mileage warranty on select models. Our sister company Scooterworks USA — the parts business from which Genuine was born — serves as the primary aftermarket parts supplier for Genuine models nationwide, ensuring riders have access to OEM and aftermarket parts long after the sale.

From first-time commuters to longtime enthusiasts, Genuine Scooters continues to do what we set out to do in that Chicago warehouse in 2002: bring a better scooter to the American market.

Genuine Expansion

Genuine has expanded its product line to include motorcycles, eScooters, and eBikes, while also entering into an exclusive partnership with NIU. This collaboration allows us to offer a full line of electric scooters in various styles and displacements, enhancing our range of mobility solutions.

Genuine’s love of two wheels has remained the same since those humble beginnings all those years ago. We want everyone to feel the same passion and excitement that we do when we take one of our scooters or motorcycles for a ride

Genuine Scooters