Faithful to the principle of his father who had set up a vertical production from metal to finished vehicle, he set out to develop the company through innovation and export.
In 1962, he created a study and research center from which came inventions such as the "airlam" (pneumatic suspension), low-floor buses, advanced cabins, etc. It decentralized production in the Rhône-Alpes region and pioneered the industrialization of emerging countries through technology transfer and training between 1953 and 1972 (Brazil, African countries, China, Cuba, Poland, etc.). This led to the creation of 16,500 jobs between 1950 and 1974.
After the merger with SAVIEM in 1978, Paul Berliet launched a new project. In 1982 he created the "Fondation de l'automobile Marius Berliet", whose aim was to safeguard and promote the history of the automobile in the Rhône-Alpes region. The Foundation is also dedicated to French trucks, buses and coaches of all makes.
Paul Berliet and General de Gaulle at the 1966 Paris Motor Show
Credit: Berliet Foundation