IRIZAR is a business project that bases its activity on the production of coaches and buses for short, medium and long distances.
We are a project made up of more than 3,100 people, with coach manufacturing facilities in seven countries (Spain, Brazil, Mexico, Morocco, China, India and South Africa) and three joint ventures in Spain, as well as a commercial presence in more than 90 countries throughout the five continents. Our headquarters are located in the Gipuzkoan city of Ormaiztegi (Spain).
Founded in 1889, with more than 120 years of history, we are the undisputed leader in the Spanish sector and one of the most important references on a worldwide level.
Irizar was founded in 1889, and José Antonio Irizar, an important Gipuzkoan entrepreneur, decided to evolve the company from manufacturing iron fittings for carriages to the world of passenger transport. At the end of the 19th century, the family company sealed its perfectionist stamp and focused on building elegant carriages and stagecoaches, an activity that it carried out for almost three decades.
In 1927, the company displayed our ability to adapt to changing times by beginning to manufacture bodywork for buses and coaches. In 1963, Irizar became a Cooperative Company.
In the early 1990s, the new strategic lines were defined that would make IRIZAR grow exponentially and begin our international expansion. In 1998, the Irizar Group was created as a result of our expansion strategy and alliances, integrating our activities of: Irizar Tianjin (China 1995), Irizar Maroc (Morocco 1997), Irizar Brasil (1998), Irizar Mexico (1999), Internacional Hispacold (Spain 1997), Irizar Tvs Ltd. (India 2001), Masats, S.A. (Spain 2002), Irizar Southern Africa (South Africa 2004) and Grupo Jema (2009). Today, the Irizar Group is backed by more than 120 years of history, and we are a project comprised by more than 3,220 people with coach manufacturing facilities in seven countries, and a commercial presence in more than 90 countries throughout the five continents.
Innovation at Irizar is a key element within our main strategy, as well as in our products. Irizar relies on an innovative management model in which everyone works closely with clients, organising our activity into multifunctional teams that manage all of the aspects related to them, from understanding and becoming familiar with client needs, through the final life of the coach, including its production and delivery.
This close bond with clients is what contributes to a better understanding of their needs, which in turn improves relationships with them and their satisfaction of the products and services offered.
This model is one of the basic pillars for reaching our objectives and promoting our growth. Due to its proven effectiveness, this model is currently the focus of study of various university forums of renowned prestige.
Safety, Service, Innovation, Reliability and Profitability are the main values that Irizar provides our clients. We develop coaches with the participation of partners, suppliers, clients and passengers, by analysing their needs, with a design that is differentiated, dynamic and solid, in line with IRIZAR´s image, by applying our own innovations and technological developments, adapting to the markets, regulations and requirements of each client. As a result of this constant innovation, today Irizar offers the following types of coaches: Irizar PB, Irizar Century, Irizar i4, Irizar i4LE, and Irizar i5, which have become a milestone in the history of coaches.
The Irizar Group manufactures more than 4,000 coaches each year at our seven production facilities in the four continents, and we are currently the undisputed leaders in the Spanish coach manufacturing sector and one of the most important references on a worldwide level.
The continuous growth in recent years has allowed Irizar to reach sales of more than 2,000 units during the first half of 2010, a 21% increase compared to the previous year, and a turnover of €200 million, 20% more than the year before.
Practically all of this growth has resulted from Irizar´s production facilities, which are displaying extremely satisfactory results and are contributing in a very positive manner to the growth, which has been spectacular in the last 15 years. Irizar has gone from having sales of €20 million and 250 people involved in our project in 1991, to a turnover of more than €400 million and a participation of 3,100 people in 2010.
Source : IRIZAR
