Berliet Early Berliet (1899–1902) History

Marius Berliet began experimenting with automobiles in 1894 and produced his first single-cylinder car in 1899, selling it to a local buyer and using the proceeds to fund the next vehicle. A twin-cylinder model followed in 1900, giving the nascent firm a small but growing catalogue of light voiturettes.

In 1902 Berliet acquired the plant of Audibert & Lavirotte in Lyon, gaining the space and tooling needed to scale production. The move marked the end of the tiny pioneer-shop phase and the beginning of Berliet as an industrial car manufacturer.