Saurer
Swiss industrial manufacturer known for embroidery machinery, textile equipment, commercial vehicles, buses, trolleybuses, and engines.
Last updated August 22, 2026
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Overview
Saurer was a Swiss industrial manufacturer whose history connected two major branches of engineering: textile machinery and commercial vehicles. The enterprise originated in 1853, when Franz Saurer established an iron foundry for household goods near St. Gallen, in eastern Switzerland. That region was an important center for embroidery and the development of embroidery machinery. During the late nineteenth century, Franz Saurer's sons Anton and Adolph began producing hand embroidery machines, and the company became one of the leading Swiss suppliers in the field. By 1883 it had built thousands of machines, and competition from German manufacturers encouraged continuing work on automated embroidery, Jacquard control, wider machine formats, and higher production speeds. The volatility of the embroidery business, which was affected by fashion cycles, trade policy, economic conditions, and war, encouraged Saurer to diversify. Under Adolph Saurer and his son Hippolyt, the company entered engines and automobiles before concentrating from 1903 on commercial vehicles. Saurer trucks acquired a reputation for durability and were sold or manufactured through subsidiaries, licensees, and associated companies in several European countries and in the United States. Its vehicle programs included trucks, buses, trolleybuses, military vehicles, and specialized chassis. The B-type truck, introduced in 1926, was especially important in establishing the brand's international reputation. In 1929 Saurer acquired Swiss rival Motorwagenfabrik Berna AG, retaining Berna as a badge and brand for closely related vehicles. Saurer also developed a substantial engineering presence in propulsion. It built licensed and proprietary aero engines, including work on diesel and petrol designs, and supplied engines and mechanical units to licensees such as Italy's Officine Meccaniche. From the 1930s, trolleybuses became an important part of its output, commonly combining Saurer or Berna chassis with electrical equipment from Brown, Boveri or SAAS and bodies from Carrosserie Hess. After the Second World War, an agreement with OM allowed Saurer to market light and medium trucks and buses in Switzerland under Saurer-OM and Berna-OM badges. Declining commercial-vehicle sales led Saurer and FBW to merge in 1982 into Nutzfahrzeuggesellschaft Arbon & Wetzikon, or NAW. The last Saurer-badged truck sold on the open market was delivered in 1983, while a Saurer 10DM supplied to the Swiss Army in 1987 is generally identified as the final truck produced. Daimler-Benz acquired control of NAW and ultimately discontinued the Saurer, Berna, and FBW vehicle brands; NAW later entered liquidation in 2003. The Saurer name also continued in a transformed industrial context. During the 1990s, restructuring under chairman Ernst Thomke and a focus on textile machinery and propulsion technology helped restore profitability. The group acquired or developed interests including Schlafhorst and Ghidela. In 2007, the textile activities were integrated into Oerlikon, becoming associated with Oerlikon-Saurer Textile, while the automotive-related Graziano Trasmissioni activities also became part of Oerlikon. Consequently, the historical Saurer corporation is defunct as an independent vehicle manufacturer, although the Saurer name survives in industrial and textile-machinery contexts and its vehicles remain significant subjects for collectors, museums, transport historians, and military-vehicle enthusiasts.
History
Franz Saurer, who originated from Veringenstadt in Germany, founded an iron foundry near St. Gallen in 1853. The business initially made household goods, but its location placed it close to eastern Switzerland's embroidery industry. Around 1869, Franz Saurer's sons Anton and Adolph began making hand embroidery machines. The company, operating as F. Saurer & Söhne, became a leading Swiss producer during the 1870s and had manufactured thousands of machines by the early 1880s. The next generation faced increasingly sophisticated competition from Saxony and elsewhere in Germany. Embroidery technology moved from hand-operated equipment toward faster schiffli machines using shuttle mechanisms and automated Jacquard pattern control. Saurer responded by developing its own control systems and increasing machine width and output. Its machines reached a ten-metre width by 1905 and fifteen metres by 1913. This engineering tradition became the foundation of Saurer's long-term position in embroidery and later textile machinery. Adolph Saurer took control of the company in 1896. With his son Hippolyt, he expanded the business into engines and road vehicles. An early automobile program included a phaeton and a four-cylinder engine design, but from 1903 the company concentrated on commercial vehicles. Saurer's trucks became known for durability and were distributed through subsidiaries or licensed production arrangements. Operations or relationships existed in Austria, France, the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, Poland, and the United States. In America, a Saurer truck operation merged in 1911 with the Mack Brothers Motor Car Company to create International Motor Truck Company, which continued using the Saurer name for a period. Saurer vehicle development proceeded through A-, B-, C-, and D-type ranges. The B-type, introduced in 1926, was particularly influential in establishing the marque's international standing. In 1929 the company acquired Motorwagenfabrik Berna AG of Olten, a Swiss competitor. Berna vehicles continued to be sold under their own name even when they shared Saurer designs. Saurer also expanded into buses and, from 1932, trolleybuses. These vehicles were used in many Central European transport systems and often combined Saurer or Berna mechanical equipment with electrical systems from Brown, Boveri or SAAS and bodies from Hess. The company developed or manufactured aircraft engines as well. From 1917 it produced engines under licence, later pursuing its own designs. Its FLB project explored a compact two-stroke diesel architecture related to the Junkers Jumo 205, while the YS-2 and YS-3 represented development of the Hispano-Suiza 12Y-51 and were used in limited applications. The FLB program did not reach operational production. The Second World War forms a grave part of the historical record associated with the brand: restructured Saurer truck types were used in the Nazi extermination program at Chełmno. This fact concerns the documented use of vehicles by the German authorities and is an essential part of any complete account of Saurer's wartime history. After the war, Saurer continued producing trucks, buses, trolleybuses, military vehicles, and specialized designs. A 1951 arrangement with Italian manufacturer OM enabled Saurer to market OM light and medium vehicles in Switzerland under combined Saurer-OM and Berna-OM badges. Late projects included the F006 and F007 all-terrain vehicles, developed for possible Swiss military and civilian service. The Swiss Army tested them but selected the Puch 230GE instead, leaving only a small number of prototypes. Commercial-vehicle sales weakened in the early 1980s. Saurer and FBW therefore merged in 1982 to create NAW. Vehicle production continued under the new corporate structure, but the historic marques were progressively abandoned. Daimler-Benz acquired a major shareholding and later full control, using the Arbon facility for heavy-vehicle assembly. The last Saurer truck sold commercially appeared in 1983, and the final known production truck, a 10DM for the Swiss Army, was supplied in 1987. NAW was eventually liquidated in 2003. Saurer subsequently became more focused on industrial technology. In the 1990s, chairman Ernst Thomke oversaw restructuring, improved production and accounting systems, and a stronger emphasis on textile machinery and propulsion technology. The group acquired or incorporated activities including Schlafhorst and Ghidela. In 2007, Saurer was integrated into Oerlikon. Textile activities became part of Oerlikon-Saurer Textile, while Graziano Trasmissioni represented the remaining automotive-related propulsion business. The independent vehicle marque is now defunct, but Saurer remains historically important in Swiss textile engineering, commercial vehicles, public transport, military transport, and industrial design.
- 2007
Integration into Oerlikon
[1]Saurer's textile machinery and automotive-related activities are integrated into Oerlikon.
- 1987
Final Saurer truck produced
[1]A Saurer 10DM supplied to the Swiss Army is identified as the final truck produced under the Saurer lineage.
- 1982
Formation of NAW
[1]Saurer and FBW merge their vehicle operations into Nutzfahrzeuggesellschaft Arbon & Wetzikon.
- 1951
Agreement with OM
[1]Saurer agrees to market OM light and medium trucks and buses in Switzerland under Saurer-OM and Berna-OM badges.
- 1932
Trolleybuses become a significant product segment
[1]Saurer expands its trolleybus production, supplying vehicles to transport systems across Central Europe.
- 1929
Berna acquired
[1]Saurer acquires Motorwagenfabrik Berna AG while allowing the Berna name to continue on related vehicles.
- 1926
B-type truck introduced
[1]The B-type truck becomes a major contributor to Saurer's international reputation for durable commercial vehicles.
- 1917
Licensed aero-engine production begins
[1]Saurer begins manufacturing aero engines under licence and later develops its own designs.
- 1903
Commercial-vehicle production becomes central
[1]Saurer shifts its principal automotive emphasis toward commercial vehicles.
- 1896
Adolph Saurer assumes control
[1]Adolph Saurer takes over the enterprise and later develops it with his son Hippolyt.
Products and positioning
A Swiss engineering manufacturer positioned around durable commercial vehicles, specialized transport equipment, engines, and high-throughput textile and embroidery machinery.
Textile machinery · 1869
Embroidery machinery
Embroidery was Saurer's original industrial specialty. The company progressed from hand embroidery machines to automated schiffli systems, improving Jacquard control, machine width, needle capacity, and production speed. This line connected the company to eastern Switzerland's historic embroidery cluster and remained a core part of its technical identity even after diversification into vehicles and engines.
Textile machinery
Spinning, twisting, texturizing, and winding systems
In its later industrial form, Saurer supplied systems for spinning, twisting, texturizing, embroidery, and related yarn-processing operations. These activities were strengthened through restructuring and the addition of businesses such as Schlafhorst and Ghidela, and were later associated with Oerlikon-Saurer Textile.
Commercial truck · 1926
Saurer B-type
Introduced in 1926, the B-type was one of Saurer's most consequential truck families. Its reputation for longevity helped establish the marque internationally during the interwar period, when Saurer vehicles were widely used across mainland Europe.
Public-transport vehicle · 1932
Saurer trolleybuses
From 1932, trolleybuses became a significant Saurer product. Vehicles such as the 411LM, 415, GT 560, and GT 560 640-25 combined Saurer or Berna chassis with electrical equipment from suppliers including Brown, Boveri and SAAS and bodies from Hess.
Military truck
Saurer 6DM and 10DM
The 6DM and 10DM were heavy all-terrain military trucks associated with the final phase of Saurer's vehicle production. The 10DM supplied to the Swiss Army in 1987 is generally regarded as the last Saurer truck produced.
All-terrain vehicle · 1980
Saurer F006 and F007
The F006 and F007 were late Saurer prototypes intended for Swiss military and possible civilian use. The F006 used a conventional configuration, while the F007 adopted a cab-over layout. Swiss military testing did not result in an order, and only a small number of prototypes were built.
Aircraft engine · 1917
Saurer aero engines
Saurer manufactured aero engines under licence from 1917 and also pursued proprietary designs. Its YS-2 and YS-3 developments were derived from the Hispano-Suiza 12Y-51 and saw limited use, while the FLB project explored a compact two-stroke diesel architecture but did not reach operational production.
Controversies
1942
Use of Saurer trucks in the Chełmno extermination program
During the Second World War, restructured Saurer truck types were used by Nazi authorities as gas vans in the extermination program at Chełmno. The vehicles were adapted for the murder of deported people. This is a documented wartime use of Saurer-derived vehicles and a serious part of the brand's historical record.
Brand decisions
2007
Integrate Saurer activities into OerlikonM&ABackground
Saurer had become primarily an industrial technology group rather than an independent commercial-vehicle manufacturer.
Action taken
Oerlikon integrated the textile machinery activities and the remaining automotive-related Graziano Trasmissioni business.
Aftermath
The Saurer name continued in textile machinery associations, while the historic independent vehicle company ceased to exist.
1995
Refocus the group on textile machinery and propulsion technologyStrategyBackground
The post-vehicle Saurer group required restructuring after the decline of its traditional automotive activities.
Action taken
Under chairman Ernst Thomke, the group pursued restructuring, production improvements, accounting changes, and specialization in textile machinery and propulsion technology.
Aftermath
The group returned to profitability in 1996, with Schlafhorst contributing more than half of reported revenue according to the reference material.
1982
Merge vehicle operations with FBWM&ABackground
Weakening commercial-vehicle sales made it difficult for the two leading Swiss truck manufacturers to continue independently.
Action taken
Saurer and FBW formed Nutzfahrzeuggesellschaft Arbon & Wetzikon, or NAW.
Aftermath
Vehicle production proceeded under NAW, while the Saurer and Berna marques were later discontinued under Daimler-Benz control.
1929
Acquire Motorwagenfabrik BernaM&ABackground
Berna was a Swiss rival in commercial vehicles.
Action taken
Saurer acquired Motorwagenfabrik Berna AG while retaining the Berna name for related vehicles.
Aftermath
Saurer expanded its Swiss vehicle position and operated two closely related badges.
1903
Concentrate automotive activity on commercial vehiclesStrategyBackground
Saurer had experimented with passenger automobiles and engines while its embroidery business remained exposed to cyclical demand.
Action taken
The company made commercial-vehicle production its principal automotive direction, developing trucks, buses, and related chassis.
Aftermath
This created the durable Saurer vehicle identity that became prominent across Europe during the twentieth century.
Recent events
- 2007
Saurer textile and automotive activities integrated into Oerlikon[1]
M&A
The Saurer conglomerate's textile machinery activities and the remaining automotive-related Graziano Trasmissioni business were integrated into Oerlikon.
- 1987
Saurer 10DM supplied to the Swiss Army[1]
Product generation · Other
A 10DM military truck supplied to the Swiss Army represented the final Saurer truck produced.
- 1983
The final Saurer-badged open-market truck is delivered[1]
Other
The last truck carrying the Saurer badge for open-market sale was delivered after the vehicle business had moved into the NAW structure.
- 1982
Saurer and FBW merge to form NAW[1]
M&A
Declining sales in the Swiss commercial-vehicle market led Saurer and FBW to combine their vehicle operations in Nutzfahrzeuggesellschaft Arbon & Wetzikon. Production continued under the NAW name.
Sources1 sources
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