When did Kymco start selling in the USA?

[Stig / Major Tom]

Saw an advert for a 2002 Kymco scooter.
How long has Kymco been selling scooters in any significant way in the USA?
(from 'powersports" dealers - whatever those are. There's a local SYM dealer that sells out of his small HVAC company. The local KYMCO dealer and the Vespa dealers all sell mostly motorcycles - both in very small towns.)
Thanks, Stig

[alphaBETAdog]

From an article in Dealer News:
http://www.dealernews.com/dealernews/article/kymco-usa-focusing-investments-long-term-success

"Headquartered in an 80,000 sq. ft. facility in Spartanburg, S.C., the company now doing business as KYMCO USA imported and distributed its first KYMCO scooter in 2000, its first KYMCO ATV in 2003, and today serves as the exclusive KYMCO representative in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and other U.S. territories in the Caribbean."

Doesn't mean that units weren't imported and sold by other companies, however.