Philibert Transport

What Philibert Transport does

Philibert Transport (legal entity CARS PHILIBERT, SAS) is a French interurban passenger coach operator headquartered in Caluire-et-Cuire, France, and a subsidiary of Groupe Philibert. The company runs regular bus lines, school transport (dessertes scolaires), on-demand transport (Transport à la Demande) and four SNCF TER coach axes across eight departments of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region (Ain, Loire, Isère, Rhône, Haute-Savoie, Savoie, Jura, Haute-Loire). Operating scope spans 36-plus lines in the Cars Région Ain network alone, plus Cars Région Loire, Cars Région Isère (TransIsère), Réseau TAM, Sibra, TICO-3CM and STAS integrations, supported by license 2014/82/000773 from the Ministère Chargé des Transports.

The company's technology stack is operationally light and primarily integration-led rather than proprietary. It distributes the Phil'Info free SMS disruption-alert service to passengers, integrates the OÙRA multi-authority contactless smart card (mandatory since February 2019 across 25 transport authorities and 30+ networks), routes itinerary planning through the OÙRA.com regional trip planner, and offers Pysae mobile-app real-time bus tracking on Cars Région Ain lines A71 and A32. The website is WordPress-based and is hosted by Sewan with Google Analytics for visitor measurement; the company is RGPD-compliant as data controller.

Revenue is structurally hybrid. The primary commercial mechanism is multi-year public-service contracts awarded by the Région Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes and eight departmental councils, through which Philibert receives compensation for operating lines, school transport, and TER coach axes. Passenger-facing revenue is secondary and consists of single tickets (typically €1 to €2.20 by zone), monthly subscriptions starting at €10/month with a 50% employer contribution (mandatory for French employers of 11+ employees), and event-specific promotional fares. The go-to-market is effectively sales-led into public authorities, with consumer demand generated indirectly via regional authority channels, OÙRA distribution partners, and limited direct recruitment-oriented outreach (Roulons Ensemble forums, open days at headquarters). No revenue, headcount growth, or M&A history is publicly disclosed.

Name

Philibert Transport

Legal name

CARS PHILIBERT

Website

https://philibert-transport.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Philibert Transport is a French interurban coach operator running regular lines, school transport, on-demand transport and four SNCF TER coach axes across eight departments in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes under contract with the regional and departmental authorities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Interurban Passenger Coach Transport

NAICS

Interurban and Rural Bus Transportation (48521), Other Transit and Ground Passenger Transportation (48599)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Economy/Conventional Scheduled Intercity Bus Services (THAIADAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Intercity Bus Feeder & First/Last-Mile Connector Operators (Scheduled) (THAIADAJ), Last-Mile On-Demand Feeder to Transit (First/Last-Mile Providers) (THAIAGAJ)

Keywords

• Interurban coach transport
• Regional bus services
• School transport services
• Public transit operations
• Passenger transport services

Headquarters

HQ city

Caluire-et-cuire

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Public Transport Contracts: Philibert Transport operates as a contracted carrier for the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Region and various departmental authorities (Ain, Loire, Isère, Rhône, Haute-Savoie, Savoie, Jura, Haute-Loire). The company receives compensation for operating regular lines, school transport services, and TER regional coach lines on behalf of these public transport authorities. Revenue is generated through contractual arrangements with government entities rather than direct passenger fares as the primary revenue source.
2. Transport Tickets and Passes: Revenue from passenger transport tickets including single tickets (1€ to 2.20€ depending on zone), the OùRA contactless smart card system (mandatory since February 2019), and monthly subscriptions starting from 10€/month with 50% employer contribution. New pricing structures scheduled for implementation in 2026.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Philibert Transport operates interurban coach transport services across 8 departments in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of France under license 2014/82/000773. The company provides regular bus lines (including Cars Région Ain with 36+ lines, Cars Région Loire, Cars Région Isère, and TAM networks), dedicated school transport (dessertes scolaires), 4 TER regional express coach lines in partnership with SNCF, and on-demand transport (Transport à la Demande – TAD). It also operates the proprietary Phil'Info SMS alert service and integrates with the OÙRA contactless smart card system and Pysae real-time tracking application.

Product overview

Philibert Transport is a regional bus transport company operating under the Cars Philibert (SAS) brand, providing intercity coach services across 8 departments in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region. The company's portfolio consists of regular bus lines (lignes régulières) connecting small municipalities to major cities, school transport services (dessertes scolaires), and participation in multiple regional networks including Cars Région Ain (36 lines), Cars Région Loire, Cars Région Isère (TransIsère), TAM, and TER Rhône-Alpes. Digital services include the Phil'Info SMS alert system, integration with the OùRA route planning platform, Pysae real-time tracking application, and the OùRA contactless smart card ticketing system. The company operates from its headquarters in Caluire & Cuire and holds license 2014/82/000773 from the Ministry of Transport.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Lignes régulières (Regular Interurban Bus Lines) Intercity coach transport services operating across 8 departments in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes (Ain, Loire, Isère, Rhône, Haute-Savoie, Savoie, Jura, Haute-Loire), connecting small municipalities and rural communes to major urban centers and SNCF railway stations for multimodal connections. Networks include Cars Région Ain (36+ lines), Cars Région Loire, Cars Région Isère (TransIsère), and TAM.
• Dessertes scolaires (School Transport) Dedicated bus services providing school transportation for students across all 8 operating departments in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, including specific routes to Avézieux, St Médard-en-Forez, and St-Galmier. Services are contracted by departmental authorities and educational establishments.
• TER Regional Express Coach Lines Regional express coach services operated by Philibert Transport in partnership with SNCF, comprising 4 TER coach lines: AXE 30 (Ambérieu-Bourg-en-Bresse), AXE 31 (Lyon-Oyonnax-St-Claude), AXE 32 (Lyon-Bourg-en-Bresse), and AXE 35 (Lyon-Ambérieu-Virieu le Grand-Belley), connecting coach services to the wider TER rail network.
• Transport à la Demande (On-Demand Transport - TAD) Reservation-based on-demand transport service (TAD) for areas with lower population density, including the TICO-3CM network with TICO BUS and ALLO TICO booking services operated by the 3CM intercommunity. Passengers can book flexible transport in areas not served by fixed routes.
• OÙRA Contactless Smart Card Ticketing Contactless smart card serving as the unique transport ticket support since February 2019, valid across multiple regional transport networks (Cars Région, TAM, TransIsère, TER). Cards are ordered online and available at physical sales points, enabling seamless travel across 25 transport authorities and 30+ networks in Rhône-Alpes.

Quantifiable outcome

• Free Phil'Info SMS alerts keep passengers informed of disruptions in real-time
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Région Auvergne-Rhône-AlpescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary transport authority contracting Philibert to operate Cars Région interurban coach services, TER regional express transport, and other services across 8 departments. The region organizes and finances transport services which Philibert operates under contract. Joint promotional activities include summer travel campaigns, mobility challenges, and special event discounts.
• SNCF (Société Nationale des Chemins de fer Français)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPhilibert operates 4 TER (Transport Express Régional) coach lines under contract with the region, implementing services where the TER network lacks rail infrastructure. The partnership enables intermodal connections between coach services and the broader railway network (366 stations, 154,000 daily travelers).
• OùRA Consortium (25 Transport Authorities)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPhilibert participates in the OùRA project grouping 25 transport authorities coordinating 30+ collective transport networks across Rhône-Alpes. The unified OùRA contactless card system enables seamless travel across all member networks. Philibert replaced its Phil card with the OùRA system in February 2019.
• CEREMA (Centre d'études et d'expertise sur les risques, l'environnement, la mobilité et l'aménagement)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on accessibility standards for bus stops and coach stations. Philibert participated with CEREMA and Loire department in developing multi-handicap accessibility guidelines including visual impairment accommodations. This work produced a reference document 'Point d'arrêt de bus et de car : de la norme au confort'.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• RATP Dev: RATP Dev is the international subsidiary of RATP Group operating bus and coach networks in France and abroad. Competes for French regional interurban coach contracts and operates school transport and on-demand services similar to Philibert's TAD offerings.
• Keolis: Keolis is the SNCF subsidiary that operates the majority of TER coach and interurban bus networks in France. Directly competes with Philibert for Cars Région contracts and operates the same OÙRA-style multimodal ticketing platforms across French regions.
• Transdev: Transdev is one of the largest public transport operators in France and globally, directly competing with Philibert for regional and departmental coach contracts (Cars Région networks, TER coach lines) across France. Operates interurban bus services under similar public authority concession structures.

Others

• Cars Région (Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes regional brand): Cars Région is the brand under which Région Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes contracts multiple operators (including Philibert) to run interurban coach lines. This is the contracting authority/brand rather than a peer competitor, but it represents the contracting structure Philibert competes within for line assignments.

Direct peers

• Lacroix Group: Lacroix Group is a French independent bus and coach operator with regional networks across multiple departments. Competes with Philibert for departmental coach contracts and operates similar school transport and on-demand services in French regions.
• Cars Faure: Cars Faure is a regional French coach operator in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region running interurban bus services and school transport under similar public authority contracts. Comparable in size, geographic focus, and contract structure to Philibert.
• Autocars Maisonneuve: Autocars Maisonneuve is a regional coach and bus operator in eastern France running scheduled interurban lines, school transport, and on-demand services under departmental contracts. Comparable regional interurban coach operator with similar mix of public authority and passenger fare revenue.

Regional players

• Voyages Ducret: Voyages Ducret operates coach and bus services in the Savoie/Haute-Savoie area of the Alps, directly overlapping with Philibert's footprint in those departments. Comparable in service mix (regular lines, school transport, tourism shuttles) and contract structures.
• STAS (Société de Transport de l'Agglomération Stéphanoise): STAS operates the public transport network in the Saint-Étienne metropolitan area, listed as one of the networks Philibert serves. Comparable in contract-based operation with Saint-Étienne metropolitan authority, though focused on urban transit rather than regional coach.
• Sibra (Société Intercommunale des Bus de la Région Annécienne): Sibra operates the Annecy urban bus network and is another network partner of Philibert. Comparable as a contracted French public transport operator in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, though focused on urban rather than interurban services.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/philiberttransport
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cars-philibert-sa

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Philibert Transport