History of the Hife Group

Hispano de Fuente en Segures, SA (HIFE) was founded in Benassal (Castellón) in 1915. With its headquarters in Tortosa (Tarragona), the company now has more than 110 years of experience dedicated to mobility and passenger transport.
Its story begins with a Hispano Suiza, registration CS-17, with which HIFE began its first services in the province of Castellón. From that vehicle, the company developed a network of regular routes that gradually extended throughout the province and, shortly afterwards, towards Valencia.

In 1925, HIFE arrived in Catalonia with the award of the Tortosa–Valderrobres and Tortosa–Vinaròs routes, beginning a period of expansion and consolidation of services in Catalonia, Aragon, and the Valencian Community. Two years later, in 1927, it opened the 4 Caminos Service Station in Tortosa, also taking the first steps toward diversifying the Group's activities.

From the 1950s onwards, HIFE expanded its operations to include charter transport, with bases in Madrid and Barcelona, and gained international experience with services such as the regular Barcelona-Frankfurt route. During this same period, it opened the first bar at the Tortosa bus station.

Growth continued throughout the 1970s and 80s. The company expanded its regular connections and diversified its business with initiatives related to tourism and the restaurant industry, including Viajes Espatur and the first Cap de Ball restaurant. In the late 1970s, HIFE established regular service to Barcelona via the La Ràpita–Amposta–Tortosa–Barcelona highway connection and also developed international services connecting Madrid, Zaragoza, and Barcelona with Genoa, Florence, and Rome. During the 1980s, HIFE strengthened its presence at various points along the Mediterranean coast and developed services from Zaragoza to the Costa Daurada and the Costa de Azahar. It was also during this period that the company launched the innovative Hotel Bus, a sleeper coach designed for charter trips throughout Europe.

In the 1990s, HIFE continued to expand its transport network and began providing urban service in Tortosa. At the same time, it extended its connections to Madrid and northern Spain, progressively strengthening its presence beyond its original territories.
This period also coincided with the company's first major technological advances. HIFE incorporated loyalty card systems and created www.hife.es, initiating a digitization process that would later extend to marketing, traveler information, and service management.

In 1992, HIFE was selected by Mars Company to handle the transport of visitors from more than 40 countries during the Barcelona Olympic Games, already demonstrating its ability to develop large-scale special operations.
During these years, the Group also strengthened its tourism activity through Hifetours and Viajes Terminaltour, specializing in congresses, large groups and inbound tourism and developing, among other initiatives, tour packages linked to PortAventura.
In 1997, HIFE's trajectory received important recognition when it was selected as "Best company of the year in passenger transport on Regular Lines".

Consolidation and growth of the Group

With the arrival of the 21st century, HIFE continues to expand its services, its business structure and its territorial presence, while consolidating other activities developed by the Group in areas such as tourism, catering and service stations.
In 2004, it was selected as the Official Carrier of the Banyoles World Rowing Championships, in which 67 countries participated, while continuing to expand its activity in urban transport.
In 2005, coinciding with the company's 90th anniversary, he presented the book Veus i Teclats, the proceeds of which went entirely to the Associació de Malalts d'Alzheimer de les Terres de l'Ebre.

In 2008, Hifetours was chosen as the official agent for the sale of tickets for Expo Zaragoza 2008, while HIFE continued to expand its presence in urban transport.
A particularly significant step for the Group's territorial consolidation occurred in 2009 with the acquisition of the concessions of Automóviles Bajo Aragón, SA (ABASA). This acquisition significantly strengthened HIFE's presence in Aragon and improved connections between Aragon, Catalonia, and the Valencian Community, integrating both scheduled services and other transport activities.

In 2010, the company created the Virtual Pass, continuing to incorporate new digital tools and loyalty programs. In 2011, HIFE acquired Autocares Segarra, SL, a company founded in 1902 with extensive experience in scheduled and charter bus services in the province of Tarragona. This acquisition strengthened HIFE's operations in the region and established its own base in Tarragona.

In 2013, the company opened a new base in Alcañiz, adding to its existing bases in Zaragoza, Vinaròs, Tarragona, Tortosa, and Calafell. That same year, it also began managing the Cervantes Service Station in Tortosa. Also in 2013, HIFE took a step toward international expansion by establishing its first base outside of Spain, in Malabo (Republic of Equatorial Guinea), from where it operates regular routes, school transport, and corporate services. That same year, it also participated in the transport operations related to the Spanish National Football Team's visit to Malabo.

Alongside its territorial expansion, HIFE continues to invest in innovation and improving the passenger experience. Over the years, it has incorporated solutions such as the Virtual Pass, contactless cards, self-service kiosks, and ticket purchases via smartphones and tablets. In 2015, HIFE celebrated its centenary with the publication of the book HIFE, One Hundred Years of Company. Coinciding with this milestone, it expanded its routes to Barcelona and Tarragona from the Terres de l'Ebre region and continued to improve its fare policy and loyalty programs. In 2016, Autobuses Guiral, based in Caspe (Zaragoza), joined HIFE. Specializing in charter and school transport, and with a significant presence in the Bajo Aragón region, its acquisition allows the Group to strengthen and improve its services in this area of Aragon. In 2017, HIFE reinforced its presence in the mobility sector in the Community of Madrid with the opening of two operational bases in Alcobendas and Lozoyuela. At the same time, it continued to expand its services in the provinces of Zaragoza, Teruel, and Tarragona, consolidating its presence in these territories.

A new stage of expansion

In 2023, HIFE began a new phase of growth in the Pyrenees region with the launch of regular services between Andorra la Vella and Lleida, La Seu d'Urgell and Andorra, and later between Andorra and Ax-les-Thermes (France). This expansion was accompanied by the establishment of an operational headquarters in the Principality of Andorra, from which HIFE operates both regular and charter services, strengthening its structure and international presence.

In 2024, HIFE continued to expand its presence in Catalonia with the acquisition of Autocares Cabré, a company specializing in charter bus services, and established a new operational base in Valls. That same year, the company launched Clic.cat in the Terra Alta region, a service connecting the various towns of the region with Gandesa, its capital, via on-demand transportation. Simultaneously, HIFE increased its services to Barcelona and Tarragona from numerous towns in the Terres de l'Ebre region, strengthening connectivity in one of its long-standing areas of operation.

Also in 2024, HIFE entered the Barcelona Metropolitan Area (AMB) with the addition of line 902, connecting Olesa de Bonesvalls, Begues, and Gavà with Barcelona. In 2025, the company doubled its services and renewed its fleet for this operation by incorporating hybrid suburban vehicles.

2026: growth, renewal and consolidation

In 2026, HIFE continues to advance its growth and consolidation strategy in the various territories where it operates. In Aragon, it incorporates Autocares Ferrero, from Alcañiz, a company with extensive experience in charter bus services in the Lower Aragon region, thus strengthening the Group's presence and operational capacity in this area.

In Catalonia, HIFE is adding the urban bus service in Valls, two years after establishing its operational base in the city. Furthermore, as part of strengthening its structure developed around Andorra and the Pyrenees, it is opening its own workshop in La Seu d'Urgell (Lleida), expanding its maintenance and operational support capacity.

Also this year, HIFE is making a strategic investment in the Valencian Community. It is increasing regular services between Vinaròs, Benicarló, Peñíscola, Castelló, Vila-Real, and Valencia, and opening an operational base in Massamagrell (Valencia) to serve the urban routes of Almassora, La Pobla de Farnals, Peñíscola, Puçol, and Xiva. These services, previously operated by Viajes Massabus, along with its charter unit, are now part of HIFE.

At the same time, the company continues to advance in the renewal and diversification of its fleet, incorporating electric, gas and hybrid vehicles, as well as 4x4 traction buses prepared to operate on particularly demanding routes.

This renovation is accompanied by the incorporation of new technologies for passenger information and ticket sales, with the aim of further improving both service management and the customer and user experience. In this context of growth and transformation, HIFE was recognized in 2026 as “Company of the Year” in the Regular Transport category by the specialized magazine Autobuses & Autocares, an award that highlights the company's trajectory and evolution within the sector.

HIFE today

More than 110 years after its founding, HIFE is a Group specializing in mobility and passenger transport, with an activity that includes regular intercity and urban services, discretionary, school, business, adapted and tourist services.
The Group has an operational presence in Catalonia, Aragon, the Valencian Community, the Community of Madrid and Andorra, in addition to providing long-distance connections with other territories in Spain and with France.

Throughout its history, HIFE has combined the development of its regular network with a growing presence in urban transport and the incorporation of new solutions adapted to the needs of each territory, such as on-demand transport services.
Charter transport and special services also constitute a significant part of its business. HIFE provides services for companies, educational institutions, organizations, individuals, and tour operators, including school and work transport, accessible transport, excursions, group trips, and services related to sporting, cultural, and business events.

The experience accumulated in this field has allowed the Group to participate in the transportation of major national and international events. In addition to historic operations such as the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games and the Banyoles World Rowing Championships, recent years have seen the creation of the Games of the Small European States, held in Andorra in 2025, and the Monegros Desert Festival, where HIFE served as the official transportation provider and for whose 2026 edition it mobilized 263 buses and more than 14,000 passengers. These operations highlight HIFE's ability to plan and coordinate transportation operations of varying sizes and complexity.

Within the passenger transport sector, HIFE operates through various companies and brands, including Autocares HIFE, Autocares Sanfiz, La Hispano Aragonesa de Movilidad, SL, Autocars Andorra 2011, SL, and Viatges Soldevila, the latter two operating in the Principality of Andorra. Beyond transport, the Group maintains a diversified business portfolio. In the tourism sector, it operates through Terminaltour, SL, as a wholesaler, and HifeTours, as a retailer; in the restaurant sector, through Cap de Ball, SL; in the energy sector, through Estadio, SL and 4 Caminos, SA, with service stations branded by Moeve and Repsol, respectively; and in the real estate sector, through Dertusa Serveis Inmobles.

HIFE also has eight of its own bus maintenance workshops, located in Catalonia, Aragon, the Valencian Community, and Madrid, reinforcing the Group's operational, maintenance, and response capabilities. From that first Hispano Suiza in 1915 to the present day, HIFE has evolved by expanding its territories and services, incorporating new companies, diversifying its activities, and maintaining a constant commitment to innovation.

With over a century of experience, the Group continues to work towards providing more inclusive and safer mobility, supported by an ongoing fleet renewal process and adapted to the new demands of decarbonization. This increasingly environmentally friendly mobility incorporates innovative technological solutions to improve the service offering, service management, and the customer and user experience.