Aroa Insausti, Bianditz Iraola - CAF

‘We're present in the world, but we do not want to lose our identity.’

That small company that began to take its first steps at the end of the 19th century in an old forge in Goierri, is today one of the world's leading players in the transport sector; it has gone from manufacturing trains to offering comprehensive mobility solutions, with more than 100 companies and more than 15,500 employees worldwide. We review this journey through the history of CAF, with Aroa Insausti, Director of Vehicle Strategy and Organization, and Bianditz Iraola, Head of Basque.

'CAF has become not only a vehicle manufacturing company, but also a company that offers integral mobility solutions: cars, buses, but also the integral project, signaling, systems operation, financing...' Aroa assured and added that 'one of the challenges facing today's society is sustainable mobility. The population is increasing in cities, in many countries have implemented policies that support the green transition, and in this context we offer comprehensive solutions to ensure urban public transport.'

CAF is part of the Basque Industry Platform and they consider it enriching to be a member of INDEUS: 'There are different sizes of companies, the situation is not the same, your sociolinguistic situation, the environment, so you get perspective, you learn from what is well done, you avoid mistakes and in that sense it is very enriching. '

We talked about language, identity and Goierri: 'We are another player in the world. With more than 15,500 workers, projects worldwide, industrial awards in many places, but in the end we have the particularity that gives us this identity of Goierri. It is true that the Basque language is a feature of our personality. We are growing and we are present in the world, but we do not want to lose our identity.'