A French court has approved the takeover of hydrogen bus manufacturer Safra by Wanrun, a Chinese consortium. The decision, made by the Commercial Court in Albi (southern France), will allow the company to preserve its expertise in hydrogen-powered transport.
According to France Bleu Occitanie, the staff representative expressed satisfaction with the outcome. “The Chinese bid is the most attractive because it retains the most jobs,” he explained. Wanrun has committed to keeping 120 of Safra’s 169 employees. The group has also pledged €7 million in funding and promised additional investment. The same representative noted that “a majority of employees voted in favour of the Chinese offer during the Social and Economic Committee (CSE) meeting.”
The court ultimately favoured this proposal over a rival bid from TTH (Thierry Torti Holding), which was supported by several local political leaders, including Carole Delga, President of the Occitanie Region, and Tarn MPs Philippe Bonnecarrère and Karen Erodi.
It is symbolically significant that a Chinese company has chosen to invest in hydrogen technology—especially given that hydrogen was reportedly ruled out by both TTH and another potential buyer, CBM. This move shows that China is not solely relying on batteries, particularly in the heavy transport sector. And that’s good news for the hydrogen industry, in Occitania and beyond.
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