Safra

What Safra does

SAFRA is a French industrial group founded in 1955 in Albi, originally as the ESPEROU-BODOIRA bodywork company, that has evolved into a vertically integrated zero-emission mobility and public transport renovation specialist. The company operates through three subsidiaries: SAFRA Services handles mid-life refurbishment and heavy maintenance of buses, trams, metros, trains, and funiculars; SAFRA New Mobility manufactures zero-emission vehicles including the HYCITY hydrogen fuel cell bus (12m and 18m, up to 500km range), INYCIA and EVANYA electric minibuses, and the H2-PACK hydrogen retrofit kit for diesel coaches; and SAFRA New Energy provides DC charging infrastructure (60-960 kW) and modular energy storage systems. The firm's proprietary VHYSION platform offers connected fleet management (Fleet, Report, Diag) with ITxPT interoperability. Revenue is generated primarily through hardware sales (vehicles, retrofit kits, charging equipment), professional services (renovation and maintenance), and subscription software (VHYSION), with multi-year custom quotes rather than list pricing. The customer base is dominated by French public transport authorities and operators including RATP, SNCF, Keolis, M-TAG, Dunkerque, Lille, and Pau. Following the 2025 acquisition by China's Wanrun Group, SAFRA combines European public transport heritage with Wanrun's global supply chain in lithium-ion batteries, energy storage, and circular economy assets.

Name

Safra

Legal name

SAFRA Investments, S.A.S.

Website

https://safra.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

1955

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Safra is a French industrial group that designs, manufactures, and renovates zero-emission public transport vehicles (hydrogen buses, electric minibuses), offers hydrogen retrofit kits, and provides charging infrastructure and fleet management software to public transport authorities and operators across Europe.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Zero-Emission Public Transport Vehicles and Mobility Equipment

NAICS

Automotive Equipment Rental and Leasing (5321)

SIC

Wholesale-Motor Vehicle Supplies & New Parts (5013), Switchgear & Switchboard Apparatus (3613), Services-Auto Rental & Leasing (No Drivers) (7510)

akta.pro primary industry

EV Fleet Management & Charging Solutions (THADAKAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Fleet Management Services (Lifecycle, Compliance, Safety, Driver Programs) (TLABAHAJ), Truck & Commercial Vehicle Electrification Manufacturing (eAxles/Battery Packs/Fuel Cells) (IMACABAK), Fleet Fuel, Toll & Expense Management Programs (TLABAHAL)

Keywords

• Zero emission buses
• Public transport renovation
• Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles
• Fleet management software
• Charging infrastructure

Headquarters

HQ city

Albi

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Vehicle Sales: Sale of zero-emission vehicles including hydrogen buses (HYCITY), electric minibuses (INYCIA, EVANYA), and hydrogen retrofit kits (H2-PACK) to public transport operators and local authorities.
2. Renovation and Maintenance Services: Mid-life refurbishment and heavy maintenance of public transport equipment including buses, metros, trams, funiculars, and trains, extending vehicle lifespan and improving performance.
3. Fleet Management Software (VHYSION): Subscription-based fleet management platform offering real-time monitoring, reporting, and diagnostic services for vehicle fleets.
4. Charging Infrastructure: Sale and deployment of DC charging stations and energy storage systems for commercial and industrial sites, logistics centers, and public transport fleets.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Safra is a French industrial group that designs and manufactures zero-emission passenger transport vehicles (HYCITY hydrogen buses, INYCIA and EVANYA electric minibuses), hydrogen retrofit kits (H2-PACK), and DC charging and energy storage systems under its New Mobility and New Energy divisions. Through its Services division, it provides mid-life renovation, refurbishment, and heavy maintenance of public transport equipment including buses, trams, metros, trains, and funiculars. The VHYSION connected platform provides subscription-based fleet management, real-time vehicle monitoring, and predictive diagnostics for deployed fleets.

Product overview

SAFRA is a French industrial group focused on accelerating the energy transition in mobility. The company operates through three main divisions: SAFRA Services (renovation and heavy maintenance of public transport equipment), SAFRA New Mobility (zero-emission vehicles including hydrogen buses and retrofit kits), and SAFRA New Energy (charging infrastructure and energy storage). Key products include HYCITY hydrogen buses, INYCIA and EVANYA electric minibuses/minicars, H2-PACK retrofit kits, VHYSION fleet management platform, and comprehensive renovation services for buses, trains, metros, trams, and funiculars. The portfolio spans from 6-meter electric vehicles to 18-meter hydrogen buses, with supporting energy infrastructure.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• HYCITY Hydrogen Bus French-manufactured hydrogen fuel cell city bus available in 12m and 18m configurations for urban and intercity public transport operators and authorities. Offers zero CO2 emissions, up to 500 km range, and 5-10 minute refueling time.
• INYCIA Electric Minibus 6-meter 100% electric minibus designed for city centers, narrow streets, and low-emission zones. Features 220 kW motor, 128 kWh LFP battery, range up to 290 km, capacity for 28 passengers plus driver.
• EVANYA Electric Minicar 100% electric minicar available in 6-meter and 7.5-meter versions for school transport, short regional routes, and private transport services. Features 150 kW peak motor, 132 kWh CATL batteries, range up to 300 km.
• H2-PACK Hydrogen Retrofit Kit Hydrogen retrofit kit that converts diesel coaches into zero-emission hydrogen vehicles. Supported by ADEME under the France 2030 investment plan; approved for Mercedes Intouro intercity coaches with range up to 500 km.
• VHYSION Fleet Management Platform Connected subscription-based fleet management portal comprising VHYSION Fleet (real-time vehicle monitoring and GPS tracking), VHYSION Report (data visualization and export), and VHYSION Diag (fault diagnostics and predictive maintenance assistance) for bus, tram, and public transport fleets.
• DC Charging Systems DC charging stations ranging from 60 kW to 960 kW power ratings, including integrated chargers (60-480 kW), air-cooled split-type chargers (360-960 kW), and liquid-cooled chargers (360-800 kW) for buses, trucks, vans, logistics vehicles, and passenger cars.
• Energy Storage Systems Modular storage cabinets (232 kWh and 261 kWh) and mobile containers (698.88 kWh) with liquid cooling technology for peak shaving, grid support, renewable energy integration, and operating cost optimization at fleet depots and commercial sites.
• Renovation and Maintenance Services Mid-life refurbishment and heavy maintenance of public transport equipment including buses, metros, trams, funiculars, cable cars, and trains. Services include interior and exterior renovation, bodywork, mechanical and electrical overhauls, and compliance upgrades for public transport operators and authorities.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% zero-emission products manufactured
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

AI capability2 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ADEME (Agence de la Transition Écologique)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024H2-PACK retrofit kit is supported by ADEME as part of the France 2030 investment plan. This government agency provides funding and validation for hydrogen mobility projects, supporting development and deployment of SAFRA's retrofit technology.
• Vibratec SASminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSAFRA partnered with Vibratec SAS for structural testing and analysis on the Grenoble Citadis 402 tramway project. Vibratec provides instrumentation and testing services for vehicle validation.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Wrightbus: UK-based manufacturer of hydrogen and battery-electric buses, including the StreetDeck Hydroliner and New Routemaster. Direct competitor in zero-emission urban bus manufacturing, with comparable public-sector customer base across the UK and Ireland.
• Solaris Bus & Coach: Polish manufacturer of battery-electric and hydrogen buses (Urbino series) supplying European operators. Direct competitor to HYCITY/INYCIA across EU tenders with broader product range and higher production volumes.
• Van Hool: Belgian bus and coach OEM with hydrogen (A series) and battery-electric product lines serving European transit authorities. Comparable in manufacturing heritage and European public-transport focus.
• Heuliez Bus: French manufacturer of electric and hybrid buses (GX 337 E, GX ELEC) owned by Iveco Group. Closest direct competitor in the French market for zero-emission urban buses, sharing many of the same municipal customers.

Regional players

• Alstom: French rail and public transport equipment manufacturer with hydrogen (Coradia Polyvalent H2) and tramway offerings. Comparable in French public-transport renovation (SAFRA renovated Citadis trams) and hydrogen product ambition; a major indirect competitor for hydrogen rail/bus procurement.
• Caetano Bus: Portuguese bus manufacturer with hydrogen (H2.City Gold) and battery-electric product lines. Comparable in hydrogen city bus technology serving Southern European markets; primary geographic overlap is Iberian and EU tender markets rather than France directly.

Broad incumbents

• BYD: Chinese global leader in electric buses and battery manufacturing with a large European footprint via BYD Europe. Comparable in zero-emission bus technology but vastly larger scale, lower cost base, and broader product portfolio.
• New Flyer (NFI Group): Canadian parent NFI Group is North America's largest bus manufacturer with battery-electric (Xcelsior CHARGE) and hydrogen fuel cell offerings. Comparable in zero-emission transit technology with deeper capital markets access and aftermarket service network.
• Iveco Bus: Italian commercial vehicle manufacturer producing electric and hydrogen buses (E-Way, H₂ Citywide). Comparable in serving European public transport operators and provides the Mercedes Intouro chassis underpinning H2-PACK retrofit certification.

Emerging players

• Rampini Carlo: Italian niche manufacturer of electric minibuses (EPIÒ series) for city centers and low-emission zones. Comparable in electric minibus product format (similar to INYCIA/EVANYA) and target segment of small European municipalities.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCgV8-vxH0-6Dr3MyseFEMKQ?view_as=subscriber
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/safra-mtp
• Xx.com/Safra_France

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Safra