Berliet

Berliet
Company type	Private
Industry	Automotive
Founded	1899
Founder	Marius Berliet
Defunct	1980
Fate	Incorporated into Citroën (1967), acquired by Renault (1974), merged with Saviem to form Renault Trucks (1978)
Headquarters	Vénissieux, Lyon, France
Products	Automobiles, buses, trucks, military vehicles

Berliet was a French enterprise specializing in the production of automobiles, buses, trucks, and military vehicles, headquartered in Vénissieux, close to Lyon, France. Established in 1899, the company remained under private ownership except for a five-year interval (1944–1949) during which it was placed under 'administration sequestre'. In 1967, Berliet was incorporated into Citroën, later acquired by Renault in 1974, and subsequently merged with Saviem in 1978 to create Renault Trucks. The Berliet brand was discontinued by 1980.

Early history

Marius Berliet initiated automotive experimentation in 1894, initially producing single-cylinder vehicles followed by a twin-cylinder design introduced in 1900. By 1902, Berliet had purchased the Audibert & Lavirotte factory located in Lyon and rolled out four-cylinder cars featuring honeycomb-style radiators and steel chassis frames replacing the traditional wooden structures. A model reminiscent of Mercedes was launched in 1903. In 1906, Berliet licensed this design to the American Locomotive Company.

Prior to World War I, the Berliet range included vehicles from 8 HP up to 60 HP, mainly powered by four-cylinder engines of 2412 cc and 4398 cc capacities, alongside a six-cylinder engine model with a 9500 cc displacement. Between 1910 and 1912, a 1539 cc (12 CV) variant was manufactured. From 1912 onwards, six-cylinder models were produced exclusively on special request.

First World War

The outbreak of the First World War resulted in heightened demand. Alongside manufacturers such as Renault and Latil, Berliet supplied trucks to the French army, leading to substantial investments to expand production facilities.

In 1915, a new site was secured between Vénissieux and Saint-Priest for constructing a main factory.

The Berliet CBA truck became iconic on the Voie Sacrée, supporting Verdun’s supply chain in 1916. The French military ordered 25,000 units of this 4/5 ton model introduced in 1914, with daily output reaching up to 40 trucks by 1916. Additionally, under license from Renault, Berliet manufactured artillery shells and battle tanks. The workforce grew to approximately 3,150 employees.

By 1917, annual revenue had increased fourfold since the war’s commencement, prompting a reorganization into the Société anonyme des Automobiles Marius Berliet.

Between two wars

Following the war’s conclusion, Berliet resumed some passenger car production but encountered overcapacity as military contracts diminished, resulting in output being reduced by half.

Narrowing the product lineup

Marius Berliet concentrated manufacturing on just one truck and one car model instead of maintaining the pre-war variety. The emphasis was placed on the reliable 5 ton CBA truck that had proven its worth during wartime.

A problematic shortcut

At the 15th Paris Motor Show in October 1919, Berliet unveiled the "Berliet Type VB" featuring a 3296cc (15HP/CV) engine with a "Torpedo" body style. Rather than designing an original model, Marius Berliet replicated a sturdy American Dodge vehicle and debuted it locally at the Lyon Trade Fair in March 1919.

This car included high-positioned headlights and large disc wheels and was competitively priced at 11,800 francs. However, due to inferior steel quality compared with Dodge’s version, numerous customer complaints arose that ultimately harmed Berliet’s reputation.

Financial crisis and turnaround

Originally, the factory aimed to manufacture the "Berliet Type VB" at a daily output of 100 vehicles, a highly ambitious goal. Nevertheless, a sharp drop in demand for this early passenger car model, coupled with persistent quality problems, caused substantial financial setbacks amounting to 55 million francs within a single year. By 1921, Berliet encountered insolvency and was placed under judicial administration. Marius Berliet, the founder who owned 88% of the company's shares, was unable to meet creditor demands, resulting in the bank assuming control of the business. Despite this shift, operational management remained under Berliet's direction. Over the course of the next ten years, supported by a well-planned range of models and an improving market after 1922, the company successfully cleared its debts and restored financial independence from banking institutions by 1929.

Comprehensive model lineup in 1925

By the mid-1920s, Berliet presented an extensive selection of automobiles at the Paris Motor Show in October 1924, all equipped with four-cylinder engines. Among these was the distinguished 3958cc "4-litre" model featuring large bore and stroke dimensions (95 x 140 mm). The 1925 catalog consisted of:

Type VI: introduced in 1924 with a 1,160cc (7 HP) overhead camshaft engine; wheelbase measuring 2800 mm; priced between 16,260 francs for the chassis and up to 25,500 francs for the berline/sedan body.
Type VRC: powered by a 2,603cc (12 HP) sidevalve engine; wheelbase of 3060 mm; price range from 20,600 francs (chassis) to 34,000 francs (berline/sedan).
Type VM: featuring a 3,296cc (16 HP) sidevalve engine; wheelbase at 3150 mm; costs spanning from 24,800 francs (chassis) to 41,650 francs (berline/sedan).
Type VRK / 2½-litre: equipped with a 2,480cc (16 HP) overhead valve engine; wheelbase measuring 3350 mm; prices from 30,000 francs (chassis) to 48,500 francs (berline/sedan).
Type VK: fitted with a 3,958cc (18 HP) overhead valve engine; wheelbase of 3585 mm; chassis priced at 48,500 francs.

Starting in 1925, Berliet began manufacturing its own vehicle bodies internally, improving vertical integration and enhancing control over quality standards.

Advancing into higher market segments

In 1927, Berliet expanded its portfolio by launching new six-cylinder models. By October 1928—shortly before the onset of the Wall Street Crash—the majority of vehicles exhibited by Berliet at the Paris Motor Show featured six-cylinder engines. The lineup for 1929 included:

"9CV": equipped with a 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine; wheelbase
"10CV": powered by a 1.8-litre six-cylinder engine; wheelbase
"11CV": featuring a 2.0-litre six-cylinder engine; wheelbase
"20CV": boasting a 4.0-litre six-cylinder engine; wheelbase

The flagship model with its four-litre powerplant was available exclusively through special order as of March 1929. Additionally, Berliet was developing a "16CV" six-cylinder model with a 2.8-litre displacement planned for introduction in 1930.

Developments during the 1930s

In 1930, Berliet initiated trials with diesel engines in their CBA truck range and produced a limited series of diesel-powered GD2 models in 1931.

From 1933 onward, the company concentrated on four-cylinder vehicles with engine sizes of 1600 cc and 2000 cc. The final new sedan offering—the Berliet Dauphine 11CV, equipped with a 1,990 cc engine—made its debut at the Paris Motor Show in October 1933 and was released during summer of the following year. By the year 1939, Berliet had discontinued manufacturing car bodies; subsequent Dauphine models utilized Peugeot 402 bodywork fitted with distinctive Berliet-designed hoods and grilles.

Second World War and aftermath

Passenger car manufacturing ceased in 1939. Following World War II, Berliet concentrated on truck production and subsequently expanded into bus manufacturing. During the German occupation in 1940, over 20 sedans were completed, with approximately 50 additional vehicles assembled from parts after liberation. The final sedans were produced by agents in Geneva in 1946. After the death of founder Marius Berliet in 1949, control of the company was restored to the Berliet family under Paul Berliet. The Berliet GLR truck marked the first new product introduced after the war.

Although Berliet manufactured more than 2,300 trucks for German forces during WWII, the company remained under family ownership, unlike Louis Renault's factories, which were permanently nationalized by the French government.

Having initially adopted diesel engines in 1931, Berliet gradually moved away from petrol-powered vehicles; by 1963, only 234 out of their total production of 15,325 vehicles still utilized petrol engines.

In 1957, Berliet constructed the world's largest truck at the time, the Berliet T100. This 6x6 vehicle was equipped with Cummins V12 engines delivering power outputs ranging between and . Designed within ten months at their Courbevoie facility near Paris, it was available as either a dump truck or a road tractor intended for use in Europe and North Africa. By 1959, four units had been produced.

Subsequently, Belgium’s MOL Trucks acquired design rights for several original Berliet models from the 1970s and developed their own series of medium to heavy trucks (4x4, 6x6, and 8x8), based on former Berliet designs.

Citroën, Renault and demise

In August 1967, Citroën purchased Berliet, exchanging shares with its shareholders. In its last year as an independent entity (1966), Berliet manufactured approximately 17,000 vehicles. The combined Citroën-Berliet group held a dominant position with a 58% share of France’s commercial vehicle market for vehicles over six tons. It is notable that Citroën had been under Michelin ownership since 1934.

By the early 1970s, Michelin controlled both Citroën and Berliet but decided to concentrate on its primary tire business following the 1973 oil crisis. As a result, in 1974, Berliet was sold to Renault, while Citroën was transferred to Peugeot. Renault then merged Berliet with Saviem in 1978 to form Renault Véhicules Industriels.

Following this merger, the Berliet brand was gradually discontinued by the late 1970s. The last bus model bearing the Berliet name—the 1971 PR100—continued production under Renault branding until 1993. Some models remained in use post-merger, including the 1973 VXB-170 4x4 armored personnel carrier deployed by the French Army. Moreover, Berliet’s six-cylinder light diesel engine project initiated in 1977 evolved into Renault V.I.’s 06.20 engine by 1982.

External links

http://www.fondationberliet.org/ (content mainly in French and English)