Dan Acquires Tnuufa Public Transport Company for NIS 150 Million

By אודי עציון

Translated & summarized from Walla by baba

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Hebrew · 3 newsrooms covering

Dan has agreed to purchase Tnuufa, a struggling public transport company, for NIS 150 million. The deal, pending regulatory approval, aims to improve service in the Samaria and Beit Shemesh regions, which have suffered from frequent cancellations and delays. Dan plans to replace Tnuufa's existing buses with new electric models and expand its fleet, expecting to take control in early 2027.

The story in 5 lines · by baba

Dan will acquire Tnuufa for NIS 150 million, pending regulatory approval.
Tnuufa has faced criticism for unreliable service in Samaria and Beit Shemesh.
Dan plans to replace Tnuufa's buses with approximately 100 new electric vehicles.
Control transfer is expected in early 2027, with service improvements to follow.
The acquisition expands Dan's operations into Samaria and the Jerusalem corridor.

Dan Acquires Tnuufa Public Transport Company for NIS 150 Million — Editorial illustration generated by baba News, not a photograph of the event.

Dan, a major Israeli public transportation company, has signed a deal to acquire all shares of Tnuufa, another public transport operator, for NIS 150 million (approximately $40 million USD). The deal is now awaiting approval from the Public Transport Authority and the Government Companies Authority.

Tnuufa has been criticized for providing a failing service in the Samaria and Beit Shemesh regions, with frequent cancellations and delays rendering its service unreliable for hundreds of thousands of Israelis. The Ministry of Transportation, led by Minister Miri Regev, and the Public Transport Authority, managed by Idan Moalem, have reportedly failed to resolve the service crisis over the past four years.

If regulatory approval is granted, Dan is expected to take control of Tnuufa in early 2027. Dan plans to replace Tnuufa's problematic Wisdom buses with approximately 100 new electric Haiger buses, which it imports, and integrate them into intercity routes. Dan teams have already surveyed sites in Samaria to install charging stations for the electric fleet. Discussions are ongoing with the Ministry of Transportation regarding cost-sharing for the charging infrastructure and extending Tnuufa's 2020 concession, which was granted for 10 years, to justify the necessary investments.

This acquisition will expand Dan's operations into the Samaria region and the Jerusalem corridor, increasing its bus fleet to around 3,500 vehicles, including those for private hire. The purchase aligns with Dan Transportation's strategy, led by CEO Ofir Karni, to grow its core business and extend its reach beyond the Gush Dan metropolitan area.

Tnuufa, established in 2020, is owned by China Motors (60%), with Maya Thor and the Shasha Group holding the remaining shares. Tnuufa operates about 350 intercity buses and generates annual revenues of approximately NIS 400 million ($107 million USD). Ofir Karni stated that the acquisition is a step towards expanding Dan's core operations and presence in additional areas of Israel, aiming to provide reliable and quality service to Tnuufa's passengers.