At the Innotrans trade show in Berlin on September 23, 2026, Keolis signed its first Supplier Partnership Charter with Knorr-Bremse. An unprecedented initiative that redefines the relationship between public transport stakeholders and their strategic suppliers. At the heart of this commitment: improving service quality, accelerating the ecological transition, and building sustainable urban mobility.
At Innotrans, Keolis signs first supplier partnership charter in the public transport sector with Knorr-Bremse
A partnership vision at the service of Keolis' customers
Far more than a simple contractual agreement, this charter formalizes an innovative, responsible, and sustainable collaboration. It is built around three fundamental pillars: mutual growth, creation of shared value, and social responsibility – directly benefiting the users, local authorities, and territories served by Keolis.
This agreement represents a paradigm shift in our procurement approach.
We are moving away from pure price competition to build value-creating partnerships with our suppliers. Together, we innovate, we reduce our environmental impact, and above all, we serve our customers better.
Frédéric Van Heems, Chief Executive Officer of Keolis
Partnerships like this demonstrate the power of international collaboration.
We are pleased to take this important strategic step with Keolis and are excited about the opportunities this cooperation will create for both organizations and even more important our customers and the future of sustainable mobility.
Kathrin Moder, Vice-President of Knorr-Bremse RailServices
This first charter embodies a conviction: suppliers are essential partners in shaping the future of public mobility. Together, Keolis and its strategic suppliers are committed to making every innovation, every process, and every solution an opportunity to better serve cities, users, and territories.
Measurable commitments that benefit users
This charter, unprecedented in the public transport sector, sets ambitious and traceable objectives that commit Keolis and its partners:
Accelerated Decarbonization: Knorr-Bremse commits to maintaining an approved status with the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), thereby reducing greenhouse gas emissions across the entire value chain.
Concrete Circular Economy: Co-development of reuse and recycling solutions for fleets and components.
Collaborative Innovation: Co-design of solutions creating measurable value for Keolis operations with access to our networks for validation. These initiatives addressing operational challenges and future mobility needs.
Local Employment and Skills: Support for local employability and regional development.
A model that extends: the new standard for Keolis
Knorr-Bremse is the first supplier to sign this pioneering charter. The Group is already in discussions with other strategic partners who will formalize their commitments in the coming months.
With this partnership approach, we are creating a genuine differentiator for Keolis and tangible benefits for our customers.
Each charter signed strengthens our capacity to innovate, reduce our environmental footprint, and deliver more sustainable and higher-quality urban mobility.
Charles-Frédéric Boisson, Chief Procurement Officer of Keolis Group