Company overview
Berliet was a French manufacturer established in 1899, initially producing automobiles, buses, trucks, and military vehicles. Following a period of administration sequestre from 1944 to 1949, the company remained privately owned until 1967 when it was acquired by Citroën. Subsequently, in 1974, Berliet became part of Renault and was merged with Saviem to form Renault Trucks in 1978. The Berliet marque ceased production in 1980. Early operations involved the construction of four-cylinder automobiles, including models similar to contemporary Mercedes vehicles. During World War I, Berliet significantly increased production of trucks for the French army, building 25,000 CBA trucks. After the war, Berliet initially focused on passenger cars but faced reduced demand and financial difficulties, leading to a shift towards single truck and car models. In 1930, Berliet began experimenting with diesel engines, gradually phasing out petrol models by 1963. In 1967, Citroën acquired Berliet, and in 1974, Renault purchased the company. The merger with Saviem resulted in the formation of Renault Véhicules Industriels, and the Berliet name was eventually discontinued. Notably, in 1957, Berliet produced the T100 6X6, one of the largest trucks in the world at that time. Following the merger, some Berliet designs were acquired by MOL Trucks of Belgium.
