The German coaching company will thus strengthen its presence on the Atlantic. Greyhound has 2,400 destinations with nearly 16 million passengers a year in North America.
Le Monde with AFP
Greyhound bus part of the American landscape for decades. They will now roll under German flag. The Young Society of Overseas Flixbus AutoCars will redeem the legendary American brand, a leading long distance bus, to strengthen its offer in the United States, announced the FlixMobility group on Thursday, October 21.
FlixBus will pay $ 172 million (nearly 148 million euros) in Firstgroup, current British owner of Greyhound, which counts in North America 2,400 destinations with nearly sixteen million passengers a year. The German carrier has become Germany’s most popular long-distance bus service operating in 36 countries in addition to the United States, and extended to rail services in 2018.
Flixbus launched its offer in 2018, initially to compete with Grayhound, a company founded in 1914 and headquartered in Dallas, Texas. Immortalized in countless films and television shows, Greyhound buses are icons of post-war years for their unbeatable rates, including long-term students and travelers.
“A major advance. “
“The acquisition of Greyhound is a major breakthrough” in the development of Flixbus, according to Jochen Engert, boss and co-founder of the German enterprise, which has realized since its beginnings, in 2013, a dazzling growth.
“Greyhound is an iconic company, which is, with its unique network connecting communities across the continent, in the heart of North American life,” rented David Martin, director of Firsgroup. However, the Pandemic of Covid-19 severely affected Greyhound, forced to reduce rotations. The group ended its operations in Canada, off cross-border itineraries, due to the health crisis.
FirstGroup, specialized in rail and road transport, had already announced in April for 4.6 billion euros in the United States, including the management of tens of thousands of famous yellow school buses . With these operations, the Group intends to refocus on the United Kingdom and improve its finances.