00:00Buses are not just one of the most sustainable ways to travel.
00:04The bus is much cheaper, like half price.
00:07Sustainability is an issue as far as I'm concerned.
00:09That's why I take the bus rather than drive, because it's cheap.
00:14I don't need to change here.
00:16There's a direct connection to Leipzig,
00:18where the train would have had to change trains,
00:20and that's a bit problematic in old age.
00:22And budget operator Flixbus has been dominating
00:29intercity bus travel in Europe for some time now.
00:34We are already now in the biggest bus markets on earth.
00:37And now the company is expanding beyond borders to India
00:41and exceeding expectations.
00:44Germany lifted its ban on intercity bus travel in 2013.
00:48And since then, these signature green buses have become a symbol
00:52of affordable and sustainable travel in Germany,
00:55Europe and around the world.
00:58But from the beginning, Flixbus was more than just a bus operator,
01:03as people tend to think.
01:06So what we propose to bus companies now all across the globe is,
01:10they focus on the operations and we are the technology layer.
01:14In that sense, we develop technology for network planning,
01:17for pricing, for marketing, for operations, for customer service.
01:21And we deploy that on a global base.
01:23This business model, combined with leveraging data analytics,
01:27allows Flixbus to rapidly expand its network.
01:31Today, the company that started with a few routes in Bavaria
01:34links up more than 5,600 destinations in 44 countries.
01:40That ambition to expand is not without its critics,
01:44mainly about fair competition, potential market monopolization,
01:48working conditions and the implications for regional operators
01:52struggling to compete.
01:53We always say we are pro-competition.
01:55We need open markets, no barriers, and of course,
01:58a regular environment where we ensure safety and quality.
02:01That's totally clear.
02:03But besides that, let competition at the end bring the best product.
02:07In February 2024, Flix made its entry into India.
02:11The subcontinent represents an enormous opportunity for the company,
02:14with India becoming a global tech hub.
02:18Why India?
02:19India is, outside of China, the largest bus market in the world.
02:22It is a market where buses are used as the backbone of people getting around.
02:28So a lot of money and investment going into creating better roads
02:31and better infrastructure.
02:33As Flixbus continues to expand and grow,
02:37the road ahead will require navigating complex challenges,
02:40managing growth, responding to consumer demands
02:43and addressing critics and concerns.
02:52For more UN videos visit www.un.org
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