Saviem
The Société Anonyme de Véhicules Industriels et d'Équipements Mécaniques (French pronunciation: [sɔsjete anɔnim də veikyl ɛ̃dystʁijɛl e dekipmɑ̃ mekanik]), commonly known by the acronym Saviem (French pronunciation: [savjɛm]),[5] was a French manufacturer of trucks and buses/coaches part of the Renault group, headquartered in Suresnes, Île-de-France. The company was established in 1955 by merging Renault heavy vehicle operations with Somua and Latil and disappeared in 1978 when was merged with former rival Berliet to form Renault Véhicules Industriels.
The company initially had various factories for vehicle production around France (mainly at the
History
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Early years
At the end of 1946, Renault abandoned the production of heavy trucks in view of its financial troubles, and the company lost the position of France's market leader which it had before World War II. However, the rapid development and production concentration on that sector made Renault to seek ways to enter into the market. In 1950, the Renault's technical chief, Fernand Picard, elaborated a plan to launch a limited range of trucks and buses with a single 105 CV engine, taking advantage of the economies of scale, which proved unsuccessful. In 1953, the strategy was changed and Renault decided to acquire rival manufacturers, starting with Somua and Latil.[6] The company Saviem was formed in October 1955 by the merger of Renault's trucks and buses manufacturing operations with Somua and Latil[1] and both Schneider (owner of Somua) and the Blum family (owner of Latil) had stakes in the new company.[6] Initially, the Saviem name was added besides the existing badges of the three forming companies but, from 1957 onwards, Saviem-LRS appeared as marque's name on the company's products (the acronym representing the former marques Latil, Renault and Somua), which was simplified to Saviem in 1960.[7] In 1959, Saviem became a whole-owned subsidiary of Renault. The early range of the company consisted of small commercial vehicles derived of Renault's existing models (Goélette and Galion), new medium and heavy trucks with Alfa Romeo engines[6] and Chausson support for the coach/bus production.[8] With an aggressive market approach focussed in volume rather than quality, Saviem became the leader by sales in France.[6]
New vehicles and partnerships
During the early 1960s the company introduced a renovated
From 1963 to 1977, Saviem cooperated with MAN of Germany (in 1967 such cooperation was expanded). As part of the agreement, Saviem supplied cabs and in return, MAN supplied axles and engines. The result of this was the launch of the SM (Saviem-MAN)[5][14] and JM[9] truck ranges in France. Renault also introduced the Super Galion, in partnership with Avia.[6] In 1975 Saviem, together with DAF, Volvo and Magirus-Deutz (soon after to become a part of Iveco) became co-founder of the Club of Four cooperation to produce medium-sized trucks.[1] At the same time, Saviem signed an agreement with DAC in Romania to provide engines for their new 6135.[15] The same year Saviem also acquired Sinpar[16] and completed, together with Fiat and Alfa Romeo, the construction of a joint production facility for engines (Sofim) in Foggia, Italy, at a cost of US$250 million.[17]
In January 1968, the main Saviem factory at Blainville-sur-Orne was the setting for one of the first workers' protests that led to the
Merger with Berliet
As a result of companies' reorganisation and a French State decision of unifying the heavy vehicle production in France, in 1975 Renault also acquired the truck and bus manufacturer
Facilities
Vénissieux and Saint-Ouen
Vénissieux[6] and Saint-Ouen[20] were Somua factories. Vénissieux continued producing trucks until 1962.[6] Saint-Ouen assembled engines[20] until that activity was completely transferred to Limoges in 1964[21] and later auto parts.
Suresnes and Saint-Cloud
Suresnes and Saint-Cloud were Latil factories.[6] Suresnes slowly ceased production but was kept as the head office and research and development base for the company.[21]
Argenteuil
The Argenteuil factory was a former Chausson bus/coach facility operated by Saviem since 1960. It produced parts for both Saviem and Chausson.[6]
Annonay
The coach/bus factory since 1961, originally part of Floirat and Isobloc.[10]
Blainville-sur-Orne
Built in 1956 on the former Cahen shipyards, Blainville was the only truck factory owned by Saviem from 1966 onwards.[6]
Limoges
In May 1964, the French government donated to Saviem the Limoges factory, a manufacturing facility for aircraft engine parts. Limoges became the main engine assembly location of the company.[21]
Lyon
Saviem-owned Richard-Continental had two factories in Lyon.[13]
Models
Trucks and light commercial vehicles
- Saviem/Renault Galion[6]
- Saviem/Renault Goélette[6]
- Saviem Super Galion[22][23]
- Saviem Super Goélette[22][23]
- Saviem H[24]
- Saviem J[25]
- Saviem JL[7]
- Saviem JM[26]
- Saviem P[24]
- Saviem S[9]
- Saviem SM[5]
Buses and coaches
- Saviem R-series[27]
- Saviem ZR 20[27]
- Saviem-Floirat ZF 20[27]
- Saviem SC (Saviem-Chausson) 1/2/5[27]
- Saviem SC10[6]
- Saviem S45[6][27][28]
- Saviem S53[27]
- Saviem S105[27]
- Saviem E5[29]
- Saviem E7[29]
Military trucks
References
- ^ ISBN 1-84309-689-7.
- ^ ISBN 0-7099-1611-6.
- ^ OCLC 9384438.
- ISSN 2101-0226.
- ^ ISBN 978-3-406-57762-8.
- ^ ISBN 978-90-5201-045-8.
- ^ ISBN 0-85361-114-9.
- ISBN 2-600-00317-7.
- ^ ISBN 2-7268-8197-1.
- ^ OCLC 7752994.
- ISSN 0097-3041.
- ISSN 0010-3063.
- ^ ISBN 978-2-600-01259-1.
- ISBN 978-1-84584-415-8.
- ISBN 978-0-71060-215-2.
- ISSN 1861-1036. Retrieved 5 March 2015.
- ISSN 1773-0198. Retrieved 3 August 2014.
- ^ Hirou, Amandine (22 May 2008). "1968, année explosive" [1968, explosive year]. lexpress.fr (in French). L'Express. Retrieved 21 June 2014.
- ISSN 1240-2346. Archived from the original(PDF) on 6 March 2015. Retrieved 6 March 2015.
- ^ ISSN 0035-113X.
- ^ ISBN 2-84516-052-6.
- ^ ISSN 0010-3063.
- ^ ISSN 0010-3063.
- ^ ISSN 0010-3063.
- ISSN 0010-3063.
- ISSN 0010-3063.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Sachez reconnaitre les "cars Renault"" [Recognising "Renault buses"] (PDF) (in French). Car-histo-bus.org. Archived (PDF) from the original on 3 May 2016.
- ^ ""A book full of nostalgia"" (PDF). Busworld Daily Times. Busworld Kortrijk. Archived (PDF) from the original on 29 June 2016.
- ^ a b "Les utilitaires Renault fêtent 50 ans d'activités à Villiers-Saint-Frédéric" [Renault utility vehicles celebrate 50 years of activity in Villiers-Saint-Frédéric] (in French). Le Parisien. 25 September 2015. Archived from the original on 15 August 2016.
