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Montage Suisse
Alfa Romeo 6C2300 Worblaufen 1938
   

Switzerland enjoys a long tradition in the assembly of foreign vehicles.

Here are some examples to give you an idea of the valuable activities of “Montage Suisse”.

More details are available in the Archive. The SCR-Archive offers detailed documentation (up-to-date pictures, original production plans, original orders, original material lists, etc.), expert tips and much more.

   
Buick Montage GM Suisse, Biel 1934–58
Cadillac Montage GM Suisse, Biel 1938–40
Chevrolet Montage GM Suisse, Biel 1936–68
Chrysler Montage Saurer, Arbon 1936–39
Chrysler AMAG, Bad Schinznach 1948–73
De Soto Montage Saurer, Arbon 1936–39
DKW Montage Holka,
Altstätten SG
1936–45
Dodge Montage Saurer, Arbon 1934–39
Dodge AMAG, Bad Schinznach 1948–73
LaSalle Montage GM Suisse, Biel 1936–37
Opel Montage GM Suisse, Biel 1936–37
Oldsmobile Montage GM Suisse, Biel 1936–58
Packard Montage Risch, Zurich 1934–39
Plymouth AMAG, Bad Schinznach 1948–73
Plymouth Montage Saurer, Arbon 1934–39
Pontiac Montage GM Suisse, Biel 1936–58
Ranger Montage GM Suisse, Biel 1970–75
Standard AMAG, Bad Schinznach 1948–73
Studebaker AMAG, Bad Schinznach 1948–73
Vauxhall Montage GM Suisse, Biel 1946–73
VW
Karmann
AMAG, Bad Schinznach 1948–73
     
   
   
AMAG – Bad Schinznach – 1948–1973   To the top
As from 1948, Plymouth, Standard and Dodge cars were assembled. VW Karmann Coupés and Studebaker Lark cars were also in the production program. The most successful model was the Chrysler Valiant (14,000 units in 13 years of production). The second most successful model was the Dodge Dart (4440 units in 12 production years). Production came to a stop in 1973. Today, the company is the Swiss importer of VW, Audi, Seat, Škoda and Porsche.    
     
General Motors Suisse SA – Biel – 1934–1975   To the top
On 5 February 1936, the first GM-Suisse car, a Buick eight-cylinder model, came off the conveyor belt. During the war years, limousines were converted to army vehicles and railway trucks were repaired. As from 1946, production started again of Vauxhall and Chevrolet cars. Opel models did not re-start until 1950. Over the years, the considerable variety of cars produced was gradually reduced to Opel Vauxhalls and from 1970 to 1975 to Rangers. The works was considerably expanded in 1949, 1957 and 1966. Five different GM’s with up to 3 different models came off the Biel conveyor belt ‘just in time’ and, depending on the order intake, in a motley order. This represented worldwide a unique logistical masterpiece. It was originally planned to assemble 2000 vehicles annually, but in its heyday the works annually assembled up to 17,000 of them.    
     
Holka DKW – Altstätten SG – 1934–1945   To the top
Ernst Göhner imported chassis and engines from Chemnitz DKW and was licensed to cover them with a light plywood structure in imitation leather (HO-lz KA-rosserie). But as from 1935, the bodywork was made out of metal, and Holka launched the Landi-DKW for the National Exhibition in 1939. Despite the war turmoil, production was continued until 1945, and approx. 1650 Holkas were built in total. The company that succeeded them, Bauwerk, still exists today.    
     
Assembly Risch – Zurich – 1934–1939   To the top
Werner Risch, Swiss importer at that time of Packard cars, launched his own make “Swiss-Packard” on the occasion of the Geneva Automobile Salon in 1934. His vehicles were much-modified Packards.    
     
Assembly Saurer – Arbon – 1934–1939   To the top
Assembly of Plymouth, Dodge, Chrysler and De Soto limousines, amongst which also some Airflow models. Renowned Swiss bodymakers tailored elegant, luxurious convertible structures onto pre-fabricated chassis. Estimated production: 2000 limousines and chassis.