Syndicat Mixte des Transports

What Syndicat Mixte des Transports does

Syndicat Mixte des Transports (SMT) — full legal name Syndicat Mixte des Transports du Petit Cul de Sac Marin — is a public transport authority (syndicat mixte) established under French territorial law and headquartered in Baie-Mahault, Guadeloupe. It acts as the Autorité Organisatrice de la Mobilité (AOM) for the Petit Cul de Sac Marin territory and is governed by a comité syndical composed of representatives from its constituent entities: Cap Excellence (Communauté d'Agglomération Centre Guadeloupe), CARL (Communauté d'Agglomération Rivières du Levant), and most recently CANBT (Communauté d'Agglomération du Nord Basse-Terre), which joined in 2025-2026. SMT organizes, develops, and modernizes mobility across 13 communes including Les Abymes, Baie-Mahault, Pointe-à-Pitre, Le Gosier, Lamentin, Petit-Bourg, Sainte-Anne, Saint-François, Goyave, Deshaies, Pointe-Noire, Sainte-Rose, and La Désirade. The legal entity is a local government body, not a privately held company, with no parent company and no venture funding.

SMT operates a four-pillar multi-modal mobility ecosystem: Karu'lis (the urban and inter-urban bus network, 75 lines, 120 buses, over 4.5 million trips annually, celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2024-2025); Karu'vélo (bike-sharing with 15 free-service stations—13 in Cap Excellence and 2 in CARL—and long-term electric-assist bicycle rentals via a new subscription tariff set in 2025); Karu'covoit (a free daily carpooling service powered by the Karos platform); and Kéti, a high-level bus rapid transit project (TCSP/Transport en Commun en Site Propre) with a €13.6M budget, public consultations launched in 2024, and dedicated bus corridor planning underway. A school transport service enrolls 3,504 students (Cap Excellence: 1,484; CARL: 2,020) with annual registration from July 1 to September 30. The technology stack centers on SAEIV for fleet management and passenger information, QR-code infrastructure at stops, mobile applications on iOS/Android, and centralized procurement of fleet and equipment through the CATP (Centrale d'Achat du Transport Public). Operations on Cap Excellence territory are delegated to STAC under a public-service delegation contract.

The revenue model combines fare-based bus ridership (including a promotional €1 fare during European Mobility Week), school transport subscription fees, long-term VAE rental subscriptions, delegation fees from operators such as STAC, and substantial public-sector grants from Région Guadeloupe, the European Regional Development Fund (FEDER), ADEME, Fonds Vert, Avelo, and CEE (Certificats d'Économies d'Énergie). SMT is GDPR-compliant, designates a DPO ([email protected]), and is led by Président Georges Daubin and DGS Patrick Rilcy. Strategic posture is characterized by steady territorial expansion (CANBT adhesion), multi-modal product diversification, and a major BRT capital project (Kéti) that signals an ambition to evolve from a bus-led operator into an integrated mobility authority.

Name

Syndicat Mixte des Transports

Legal name

Syndicat Mixte des Transports du Petit Cul de Sac Marin

Website

https://smt.gp

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Syndicat Mixte des Transports (SMT) is a Guadeloupe, France-based public transport authority organizing multi-modal mobility—buses (Karu'lis), bike-sharing (Karu'vélo), carpooling (Karu'covoit), and school transport—for residents of 13 communes in the Petit Cul de Sac Marin territory.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Baie-Mahault

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Public transport fares (Karu'lis): SMT generates revenue through passenger fares on the Karu'lis urban bus network. Fares are publicly listed, including a 1€ promotional fare during the European Mobility Week. Revenue is collected through ticket sales, passes, and digital payment systems managed at physical counters and via mobile app.
2. School transport subscriptions: School transport service is organized for students across the territory. Parents pay subscription fees for their children's school transport. Enrollment is managed annually with a dedicated registration period and online payment portal.
3. Bike sharing and rental (Karu'vélo): Revenue is generated from bicycle rental services including long-term electric bike rentals (location longue durée VAE) and free-service station usage. Pricing for long-term VAE rental is subject to deliberation and published tariff modifications.
4. Public subsidies and grants: SMT operates as a mixed public syndicate receiving government funding from local authorities (Région Guadeloupe, EU via FEDER, ADEME, Fond Vert, Avelo, CEE) for network operations, infrastructure projects, and sustainable mobility initiatives. The organization is subject to annual budget votes and approves compte administratifs (administrative accounts).
5. Delegated service public fees: SMT operates public service delegations (DSP) with operators such as STAC for urban transport and various transport providers for school transport. The authority collects delegation fees and manages contracts with delegated operators, including annual reporting (rapport annuel du délégataire).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Syndicat Mixte des Transports (SMT) is a public mobility organizing authority that plans, operates, and oversees multi-modal public transport services across the Petit Cul de Sac Marin territory in Guadeloupe. Its core offerings include the Karu'lis urban and inter-urban bus network (75 lines, 120 buses, 4.5M+ annual trips), Karu'vélo bike-sharing with self-service stations and long-term electric bike rental, Karu'covoit daily carpooling powered by Karos, the Kéti bus rapid transit project (TCSP, 13.6M euro investment under development), and dedicated school transport serving 3,504 enrolled students across 13 communes.

Product overview

Syndicat Mixte des Transports (SMT) operates a comprehensive multi-modal public transportation ecosystem in Guadeloupe. The core offering is the Karu'lis bus network (75 lines, 120 buses, 4.5M+ annual trips), supplemented by Karu'vélo (electric bicycle service with self-service stations and long-term rentals), Karu'covoit (free carpooling), and the Kéti Bus Rapid Transit project. School transport services are also integrated into the portfolio. The network covers territories including Cap Excellence (13 bike stations, 1484 school registrations), CARL (2 bike stations, 2020 school registrations), and CANBT.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Karu'lis: Public bus transport network providing regular public transport services on the SMT perimeter, with 75 lines and 120 buses.
• Karu'vélo
• Karu'covoit
• Kéti

Products and services

• Karu'lis bus network Urban and inter-urban public bus network operated under public service delegation, comprising 75 lines and 120 buses, serving over 4.5 million trips annually across 13 communes in the Petit Cul de Sac Marin territory. Available to all residents and visitors of Guadeloupe with tickets, passes, and digital payment options.
• Karu'vélo bike-sharing and long-term electric bike rental Bike-sharing service with two modalities: free-service bicycle stations (vélos libre-service) covering 15 stations across Cap Excellence and CARL territories, and long-term electric-assisted bike rental (location longue durée VAE). Targets residents and commuters seeking eco-friendly, last-mile, and recreational mobility.
• Karu'covoit daily carpooling Daily carpooling service powered by the Karos platform, enabling residents of the SMT territory to share commutes. Promoted through the SMT website and at community events, with periodic free carpooling promotions (e.g., Easter Sunday).
• Kéti high-level public transport (TCSP / Bus Rapid Transit)

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 4.5 million trips per year on the Karu'lis bus network
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• CANBT (Communauté d'Agglomération du Nord Basse-Terre)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025CANBT joined the SMT in 2025, expanding the syndicate's territorial coverage. This adhesion involved transferring staff and organizing school transport for the new territory. A convention for transferring mobility organization competence between CANBT and SMTPCSM was approved in February 2026.
• SynergîlesminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025SMT became a new member of Synergîles in 2024, a mobility and sustainable development cluster/pole that fosters innovation and collaboration in the transport sector. The membership was formalized at an alterwork Synergîles event.
• Région Guadeloupe (Region Guadeloupe)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRégion Guadeloupe is a founding member and key financial backer of the SMT mixed syndicate. The regional council contributes funding for transport infrastructure and operations, including EU co-financing through FEDER programs. The partnership is central to the SMT's mandate and operations.
• Cap Excellence (Communauté d'Agglomération Centre Guadeloupe)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCap Excellence is a constituent community of the SMT, contributing school transport (1,484 enrolled students) and 13 free-service bike stations. The territory includes major communes such as Les Abymes, Baie-Mahault, and Pointe-à-Pitre.
• CARL (Communauté d'Agglomération Rivières du Levant)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCARL is a member community of the SMT, providing school transport services for 2,020 students and 2 free-service bicycle stations. Riviera du Levant operates a delegated public transport contract under the SMT framework.
• La Riviera du LevantcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLa Riviera du Levant (the intercommunal authority) partners with SMT on transport services within its territory, including the GOZIEVAL 2026 carnival event where SMT provided transport support. Riviera du Levant operates under the CARL framework.
• CATP (Centrale d'Achat du Transport Public)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCATP is the centralized public transport purchasing body through which SMT acquires buses, equipment, and SAEIV systems at negotiated group rates. SMT has authorized contracting through CATP for fleet acquisitions (24 buses, 60 VAE) and passenger information systems.
• STAC (Société des Transports de l'Agglomération des Abymes et du Gosier)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSTAC is the delegated operator (délégataire) for urban public transport on the Cap Excellence territory. SMT receives the annual report from STAC as part of its oversight function (rapport annuel du délégataire).
• KaroscoreTechnology or IntegrationKaros is the technology platform powering the Karu'covoit daily carpooling service. SMT has a partnership agreement with Karos for the carpooling service, and shared balance data (bilan global) from the partnership has been published.
• Wi'anArt, DEALminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSMT participated as a partner and jury member in the Semaine Européenne de la Mobilité 2026 communication competition, organized with Wi'anArt and DEAL (Direction de l'Environnement, de l'Aménagement et du Logement).

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Transdev: Global public mobility operator with a large French footprint operating bus and multimodal networks under delegated service contracts. Comparable as a counterpart AOM operator/partner across French territories.
• Keolis: Major global public transit operator present in France and overseas territories, operating bus, tram and metro networks under delegated contracts. Comparable to SMT's delegated-operator ecosystem (e.g., STAC) and relevant as a potential operator partner.
• RATP Dev: International arm of the RATP Group operating transit networks outside Paris including bus, tram and metro concessions. Comparable to SMT's delegated operator model and a likely peer for operator-side service delivery.
• Île-de-France Mobilités: The organizing authority (AOM) for all public transport in the Paris Île-de-France region. Comparable to SMT as a public AOM that plans, funds and oversees multi-modal transit under a unified governance and branding framework.

Emerging players

• Karos: French technology platform for daily carpooling, powering SMT's Karu'covoit service. Comparable as the technology backbone of SMT's carpooling offering and a relevant emerging mobility software peer.

Direct peers

• TaM (Transports de l'Agglomération de Montpellier): Public transit operator serving Montpellier with bus and tram networks under a delegated framework. Comparable to SMT's bus-led, AOM-coordinated public transport model in a French metropolitan area.
• Régie des Transports de Marseille (RTM): Public transit operator/authority serving the Marseille metropolitan area in France. RTM is comparable as a public-sector mobility organizer running bus, metro and tram networks under an AOM-type governance structure, similar to SMT's role in Guadeloupe.
• Ilévia (formerly Transpole): Public transit operator for the Lille metropolitan area in France, running bus, metro and tram services. Comparable to SMT as a structured urban transit network with multi-modal integration and fare-managed services.
• Tisséo Collectivités: Syndicat Mixte organizing public transport across the Toulouse metropolitan area (bus, metro, tram). Comparable to SMT as a mixed public syndicate acting as AOM with integrated multi-modal services and a similar governance model.
• Lignes d'Azur (Nice): Bus and tram operator serving the Nice Côte d'Azur metropolitan area, with similar fare structures and intermodal integration. Comparable to SMT's Karu'lis network as a road-based urban/suburban transit service.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xfacebook.com/SMT971?locale=fr_FR
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCF9RMQ0YZFfiv7Kh_SmeazQ
• Instagraminstagram.com/smtguadeloupe
• Facebookfacebook.com/SMT971
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/smtguadeloupe

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Syndicat Mixte des Transports