Nobina

What Nobina does

Nobina is the Nordic region's largest public transport operator, headquartered in Solna, Sweden, operating roughly 5,000-5,500 buses and special vehicles and serving approximately one million passengers daily across Sweden, Norway, Finland, and Denmark. The company traces its origins to 1911, was listed on Nasdaq Stockholm in 2015, and was taken private by Basalt Functions AB in 2022. Its operating model is built on long-term, competitively tendered contracts — typically 7-10 years with extension options — with Public Transport Authorities and municipalities, complemented by rail replacement services, charter and event traffic, and a separate Nobina Care business for special passenger and care transport operated through subsidiaries Samtrans, Göteborgs Buss, Telepass, and TransEdu.

Nobina's service portfolio spans city and regional bus traffic, Bus Rapid Transit (BRT — exemplified by the Malmö Express), on-demand flexible-route services, rail and metro replacement traffic (over 100,000 replacement buses organized annually), school and special-needs transport, and home care. It runs a proprietary technology stack that includes the Atlas driver navigation system, real-time traffic management and security camera monitoring, a market-leading replacement-traffic coordination platform, an internally developed electric bus charging optimization algorithm, and on-demand dispatch with virtual stops. Its sustainability positioning is a meaningful differentiator: it is the first Nordic PTA to have Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi)-approved climate targets, with 32% of its fleet electrified and 85% of fuel use renewable as of its 2025/26 report, and 30% reduction in emissions per passenger kilometer achieved.

Nobina makes money almost exclusively through managed-service contracts — multi-year gross-cost or net-cost tenders paid by PTAs and municipalities — rather than farebox revenue, which is set by the authorities. Revenue is generated by operating contracted vehicle-kilometers, routes, and service hours under these tenders, with additional commercial traffic from charter, airport shuttle (via Oslobuss), event logistics (e.g., Sweden Rock), and corporate clients. Distribution is direct and tender-based, with no consumer-facing sales motion; geographic expansion and revenue scaling occur primarily by winning new tenders, renewing existing ones, and executing add-on acquisitions of regional operators.

Name

Nobina

Legal name

Nobina AB

Website

https://nobina.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

Nobina is the Nordic region's largest public transport operator, running roughly 5,000-5,500 buses and special vehicles under 7-10 year contracts with Public Transport Authorities in Sweden, Norway, Finland, and Denmark, serving about one million passengers daily.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Bus Transportation Services

NAICS

Bus and Other Motor Vehicle Transit Systems (485113), Transit and Ground Passenger Transportation (485), Special Needs Transportation (485991)

SIC

Local & Suburban Transit & Interurban Hwy Passenger Trans (4100)

akta.pro primary industry

Non-Emergency Medical Transportation (NEMT) Providers (TLAFAKAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Special Needs & Senior Transportation Services (TLAFAKAI), Transportation & Errands (Non-Emergency) (HLADAGAF)

Keywords

• Public bus transport
• Special passenger transport
• Bus rapid transit
• Rail replacement services
• Contracted transit operations

Headquarters

HQ city

Solna

HQ country

Sweden

HQ region

Europe

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Public Transport Traffic Contracts: Nobina's primary revenue stream comes from long-term contracts with Public Transport Authorities (PTAs) across Sweden, Norway, Finland, and Denmark. These are typically 7-10 year contracts awarded through competitive procurement processes. Revenue is generated through contracted bus operations including city traffic, regional traffic, school transport, and special needs transport. The company organizes over 100,000 replacement buses annually.
2. Care and Special Transport Services: Nobina Care provides special passenger transport services including travel services, medical trips, school transport, and home care. Operations are conducted under tendered contracts with municipalities and regions. This includes services for passengers who cannot use regular public transport due to various reasons.
3. Event and Coach Hire Traffic: Nobina offers rental buses with drivers for schools, associations, and large events including Sweden Rock festival. Revenue generated from charter services and event traffic operations.
4. Commercial Traffic Services: Following the acquisition of Oslobuss, Nobina operates commercial traffic including charter services, rail replacement, and shuttle operations for private and public clients.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Nobina operates contracted public bus transport services across Sweden, Norway, Finland, and Denmark under long-term tenders (typically 7–10 years) with public transport authorities. The company delivers city traffic, regional traffic, school transport, Bus Rapid Transit, on-demand services, and rail/metro replacement services through its Nobina Bus business, alongside Nobina Care which provides specialized transport for passengers with disabilities, medical needs, and care requirements via subsidiaries Samtrans, Göteborgs Buss, Telepass, and TransEdu.

Product overview

Nobina operates as a dual-business platform comprising Nobina Bus (the main public bus transport operations) and Nobina Care (special passenger transport services). Nobina Bus encompasses city traffic, regional traffic, school transport, replacement traffic for rail/metro systems, Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) via the Malmö Express brand, On-demand flexible services, event traffic, and coach hire. Nobina Care specializes in service transport, school transport, and medical trips, operating through subsidiaries Samtrans (Stockholm), Telepass (southern Sweden), Göteborgs Buss (western Sweden), and TransEdu (Finland). The company also operates the Oslobuss commercial traffic brand in Norway following its 2025 acquisition. Supporting services include safety and security solutions with live monitoring, and home care services via Anja & Dennis. Together, these offerings enable over 1 million passenger journeys daily across four Nordic countries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Nobina Bus: Public bus transport services including city traffic, regional traffic, replacement traffic, school transport, BRT (Bus Rapid Transit), and on-demand services.
• Nobina Care
• Samtrans
• Göteborgs Buss
• Telepass

Products and services

• Nobina Bus Main public bus transport service operating city traffic, regional traffic, school transport, replacement traffic, Bus Rapid Transit, on-demand traffic, event traffic and coach hire services across Sweden, Norway, Finland, and Denmark, sold under tendered 7-10 year contracts to public transport authorities.
• Nobina Care Specialized passenger transport services including service transport for passengers with disabilities, medical and healthcare transport, school transport, and home care services for municipalities, regions, and city governments, operating primarily in Sweden and expanding into Finland.
• Malmö Express (MEX) Sweden's first Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) service operating in Malmö, with high-capacity buses, extra-high frequency, boarding at all doors, prioritized lanes, and a fully electric 24-metre depot-charged bus on Line 8 unique in Europe.
• On Demand Flexible on-demand public transport service allowing travelers to order journeys anytime, anywhere through virtual stops, currently operating in Säffle, Sunne, Barkarby, Sundsvall, Kinna and Sollefteå.
• Replacement Traffic Rail and metro replacement bus services covering both planned maintenance and emergency disruptions for metros, trains, trams and long-distance passenger trains; the largest such offering in the Nordic region with 100,000+ replacement buses organized annually.
• Event Traffic and Coach Hire Charter bus services with drivers for events (e.g., Sweden Rock festival), schools, associations, and large corporate groups; includes logistics, ticket handling and timetable coordination.
• Anja & Dennis Home Care Authorized home care services under the Social Services Act providing personal care, cleaning, shopping and household chores to help people continue living at home.
• Samtrans Special Passenger Transport Leading special passenger transport service in Stockholm County, carrying out approximately 1.7 million passenger journeys annually across transport services, school transport and medical trips.
• Göteborgs Buss Special Transport Leading special passenger transport service in western Sweden specializing in transport services, medical trips and school transport, operating approximately 320 vehicles with 340 employees.
• Telepass Special Transport Market-leading special passenger transport service in southern Sweden (Skåne) covering transport services, medical trips, school transport and chartered bus services, operating about 350 vehicles with 500 employees.
• TransEdu Care and Service Transport Care and service transport in the Helsinki region of Finland, including school transport, service transport and taxi driver training; operates approximately 100 vehicles with nearly 100 employees.
• Oslobuss Commercial Traffic Commercial traffic operator in Eastern Norway offering charter services, rail replacement and shuttle operations with a largely electric fleet; serves customers including Flytoget, Norwegian Armed Forces, Avinor, municipalities and sports associations.

Quantifiable outcome

• 30% reduction in emissions per passenger kilometer
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ScaniacoreTechnology or Integration · 22 June 2026Scania signed an agreement with Nobina to supply 27 new biogas-powered buses (Scania Irizar i4 model) for intercity operations on behalf of Skånetrafiken in Sweden. This marks the premiere of the Scania Irizar i4 model in Swedish public transport. The vehicles are bodybuilt by Irizar and delivered through LECAB Lastbilar AB, featuring coach seats, toilets, and low noise levels for longer journeys on Malmö-Lund/Kristianstad routes.
• IrizarcoreTechnology or Integration · 22 June 2026Irizar bodybuilds the Scania Irizar i4 buses for Nobina's intercity operations. The partnership represents the first deployment of the Scania Irizar i4 model in Swedish public transport procurement.
• LECAB Lastbilar ABminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 22 June 2026LECAB Lastbilar AB serves as Irizar's Swedish representative and handles delivery of the new biogas buses to Nobina.
• VR (Mälartåg)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 April 2026Nobina signed a new agreement with VR to deliver both planned and emergency rail replacement services for Mälartåg across the Mälardalen region. The contract commences December 2026 and runs for up to ten years. Represents a deepening of collaboration between Nobina and VR, with focus on reliability, scalability, and passenger information. Builds on existing partnership for Norrtåg replacement services in northern Sweden.
• TransEdu OYcoreOthers · 1 September 2025Nobina Care acquired TransEdu OY, a leading provider of care and special transport services in the Helsinki region. This acquisition marked Nobina Care's entry into the Finnish market for care and service transport. TransEdu was the largest dedicated provider of care and service transport in Finland, employing close to 100 people and operating 100 vehicles. Founded in 2008, the company offers school transport, service transport, and taxi driver training. Generated net sales of approximately SEK 90 million in 2024.
• Oslobuss AScoreOthers · 14 August 2025Nobina acquired Oslobuss AS, a Norwegian bus operator, in 2025 as part of its strategy to expand in Norway's commercial bus traffic market. Oslobuss is notable for its electric bus fleet and innovative IT solutions. Founded in 2002, Oslobuss employs 210 people and operates 62 buses, including Vestfoldbuss. The acquisition was subject to Norwegian Competition Authority approval and expected completion in September 2025. Customer portfolio includes Flytoget, Norwegian Armed Forces, Avinor, and various municipalities and sports associations.
• Revon Turistiliikenne OY and Repo-Lines OYminorOthers · 27 March 2025Nobina acquired two bus companies in Finland, expanding its operations outside the capital region. The acquisition involved about 80 buses serving scheduled routes, school, and service traffic, and was expected to positively impact Nobina's earnings and margins.
• My Special DayminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2020Nobina is a proud partner and one of the main partners to My Special Day, a foundation that creates joyful experiences for children and adolescents with critical illnesses and diagnoses. Nobina contributes by providing transportation for children to their Special Days, helping create more Special Days by saving transport costs that can be redirected to supporting more children.
• FlytogetminorOthersFlytoget is a customer of Oslobuss (acquired by Nobina), providing airport express services.
• Norwegian Armed ForcesminorOthersNorwegian Armed Forces is a customer of Oslobuss (acquired by Nobina) for charter transport services.
• AvinorminorOthersAvinor is a customer of Oslobuss (acquired by Nobina), with operations at Oslo Airport, Gardermoen.
• Sweden Rock FestivalminorOthersSweden Rock is cited as an event traffic customer where Nobina handles logistics, tickets and timetables for the large rock festival.

Scale indicators17 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Transdev: Global public transport operator with significant Nordic exposure (Sweden, Norway, Denmark). Directly competes with Nobina on city bus, regional, and special transport tenders using a similar B2G managed-services model.
• Keolis: French-owned international public transport operator present across Europe including the Nordics. Directly competes for PTA tenders and operates similar contracted bus and paratransit services.
• Vy (Norwegian State Railways / NSB): Norwegian state-owned transport group operating buses and trains in close competition with Nobina Norway for public transport tenders and rail replacement services in the Norwegian market.
• Go-Ahead Group: UK-listed bus and rail operator with extensive municipal contract exposure. Competes head-to-head in the European tendered bus market with comparable service portfolio.

Broad incumbents

• Arriva: Deutsche Bahn-owned pan-European public transport operator with prior Nordic presence (Arriva Sweden). Competes in contracted bus and special transport markets with a broader geographic footprint.
• Stagecoach Group: UK-listed public transport operator (formerly owned Swebus/Nobina predecessor). Comparable contract-based bus operating model, with similar tender-driven revenue structure across multiple geographies.
• FirstGroup: UK and North American public transport operator with a comparable mix of contracted bus services. Operates under similar long-term municipal and regional authority agreements.
• National Express: International public transport operator running contracted and regulated bus services across Europe and North America, similar in scale and contract-led revenue model to Nobina.
• ComfortDelGro: Singapore-listed land transport conglomerate with international bus operations. Comparable multi-country contract-driven bus operations and mobility services portfolio.

Regional players

• SJ (Swedish State Railways): Swedish state-owned rail incumbent and Nobina's rail replacement services counterpart. Strong adjacency through replacement traffic contracts and overlapping Swedish public transport demand.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebooksv-se.facebook.com/nobinasverige
• LinkedInse.linkedin.com/company/nobina-group
• Instagraminstagram.com/nobinasverige/?hl=sv

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Subsidiaries11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A4 records

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Nobina