Berna (Switzerland) - AllCarIndex

Berna was a Swiss automobile manufacturer founded by Joseph Wyss in 1902. The company initially operated in Berne before relocating to Olten in 1904 due to expansion needs. Wyss, a locksmith and mechanic, produced the first Berna vehicle, the 'Ideal' voiturette, which featured a single-cylinder engine of 785cc that delivered 5-2 bhp. This model was influenced by the successful designs of De Dion-Bouton and included a two-speed gearbox that could be operated without a clutch, although it lacked a reverse gear. The top speed of the vehicle reached 24 mph.

In 1903, Berna introduced the 'Unicum,' which was equipped with a more powerful 8 bhp engine mounted at the front of a tubular chassis. This model was available in various body styles, including tonneau and phaeton, and a total of nine units were produced, with some exported to England. The company continued to innovate, completing a prototype of a two-cylinder passenger car in 1905. However, financial difficulties led to a reformation of the company into a shareholders' entity in 1906.

Despite showcasing a 4-cylinder 35/40 hp truck at the London show, Berna struggled to achieve commercial success. Joseph Wyss eventually retired, and the management passed to a young manager named Locher, who shifted the focus back to passenger cars. Under the guidance of French engineer Doutre, the company produced several new models, including the 14/16 PS and 20/22 PS chassis. However, after delivering only a limited number of these vehicles, Berna went into liquidation.

In 1911, the remnants of the company were acquired by the British financial group Hudson Consolidated, and Ernst Mani, who had returned from England, became the managing director. The company briefly returned to producing commercial vehicles and experimented with small two-stroke engines. Berna eventually became the second-largest producer of commercial vehicles in Switzerland before being taken over by Saurer in 1929. The brand continued to manufacture heavy trucks and buses until 1972.