RIB AUTO MOTO was founded in 1966 by Michel Ribette as a company specializing in the manufacture of accessories for auto and motorcycle racing. The company expanded its business and built its reputation through the sale of jackets, boots, suits, and reinforced gloves designed for track driving.
The beginning of RIB brand
The products are crafted from a variety of materials—including cotton, nylon, and leather—enabling the company to produce high-quality, durable technical gear. The RIB leather jacket, available in various styles and colors, has become a signature piece for the brand.
The company subsequently began specializing in the manufacture of bucket seats for small-series sports and recreational vehicles (Visa Chrono, JP4, Renault 5 Belle Île, etc.), as well as racing seats for track and off-road use.
Filing for bankruptcy
In 1981, RIB AUTO MOTO filed for bankruptcy, and six of the employees at the time decided to take over the company as a worker-owned cooperative (SCOP) in order to preserve their production facilities and expertise in automotive upholstery. SCOPEMA SARL, a worker-owned cooperative for the production of motorcycle and automotive equipment, was thus founded on June 1, 1981, with Geneviève Ribette as managing director. All products continued to be sold under the RIB brand, which already enjoyed widespread recognition across Europe at the time; consequently, it’s therefore SCOPEMA that manufacture the RIB products.
Product diversification
The company’s diversification continued in 1986 with the production of seats for mopeds and motorhomes, leading to a gradual shift in seat manufacturing methods from polyester frames to metal frames. Since 1986, SCOPEMA began focusing mainly on the motorhome market, expanding its product line to include reversible and convertible benchseats.
Thanks to its extensive and constantly improving product line, the company began exporting abroad in 1992, which helped the RIB brand gain recognition around the world. This necessitated obtaining European certifications for the entire range of RIB benches starting in 1993.
Subsequently, SCOPEMA continued to expand its product line with the introduction of swivel bases in 1994.
SCOPEMA continues to develop and improve RIB products, and will begin marketing Version 3 of its swivel bases in 2023, featuring a lighter weight and reduced thickness, a more attractive price, and 24-hour availability (except for the GB version).
Starting in 2024, production of benches on fixed and sliding rails will begin, bringing to the motorhome market a bench that can be customized and adapted to users’ needs, depending on the vehicle.
Continuous development
Thanks to the new factory inaugurated in 2021, still located in Oradour-sur-Vayres, we have advanced equipment that allows us to optimize the production of RIB products. In addition, our previous factory, which has been converted into a testing center, enables our R&D team to move more quickly through the product certification process.
Our products may evolve, but the quality of our products and your satisfaction remain at the heart of our projects. All RIB products are still 100% made in France at our factory in Oradour-sur-Vayres, located in Nouvelle-Aquitaine.
We are delighted to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the RIB brand and the 45th anniversary of SCOPEMA. We have been able to grow thanks to your loyalty, and we hope to continue supporting you for many years to come on your travels around the world.
