Berna

Just like everywhere else in Europe small car factories were mushrooming up in Switzerland, too, before World War I.  Most makes were very short-lived.  Other companies switched over to the manufacture of buses and lorries and by doing so managed to survive a great deal longer.  Joseph Wyss 'Schweizerische Automobile Fabrik Berna' in Bern, which was founded in 1902, was one of these companies.  Wyss designed the first cars.  Between 1905 and 1907, the factory at Olten only manufactured lorries.  This, however, did not bring in enough money either.  In 1907, Wyss had to sell his company.  The new owner, the 22 year old Locher, had another go at motorcars, but eventually also went bankrupt.