The convertible vehicle that transported the world champions this Monday through Madrid was built by the Ourense-based company UNVI, which also accompanied La Roja in Euro 2024.
The double-decker bus that toured the streets of Madrid last Monday with the players of the Spanish football team, celebrating their second World Cup star, is not just any vehicle. It was manufactured by the Galician company UNVI, based in Ourense, a company specialised in tourist coaches that has found in the king of sports an international showcase.
The model used is the i23, a convertible double-decker bus adapted for celebration events. This is not the first time UNVI has provided its services to La Roja; it did so during the celebration of the previous Euro 2024, when the team was crowned champion in Germany. On that occasion, the same vehicle took the players to the Cibeles fountain, the epicentre of the celebrations in Madrid.
Carlos Rivo, managing director of UNVI, highlighted the company's satisfaction in being part of a sporting milestone again: “To have this team in this World Cup makes us very proud and encourages us to continue our work with great enthusiasm.” Rivo recalled that the company's coaches have transported other great teams and clubs, such as the French national team when they won the World Cup, the Italian team, Juventus, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, or the Spanish basketball team.
UNVI was founded in 1995 and has managed to expand to over fifty countries. Its relationship with football has been a springboard for its global growth. “We sell it in the main European capitals and also in North America, South America, and Asia. This year we have several units to deliver in Tokyo,” explained Rivo, emphasising the impact of being associated with high-profile events.
The i23 bus is a double-decker tourist vehicle, adapted for large events. In its configuration for celebrations, the upper deck is open, allowing players to greet fans. The choice of this model is not coincidental: UNVI has managed to combine functionality with the media visibility that football provides.
UNVI's presence at the Madrid celebration highlights the importance of the automotive auxiliary industry in Galicia. The Ourense company, with over 25 years of experience, has established itself as a benchmark in the manufacture of luxury and tourist coaches, competing with firms from all over Europe. Its ability to adapt vehicles to the needs of each client has allowed it to carve out a niche in a market dominated by large multinationals.
For Madrid fans, the UNVI bus has already become part of the collective imagination of sports celebrations. The image of the vehicle travelling down Gran Vía or Castellana, with players waving flags and lifting trophies, has been repeated since Euro 2024. Now, with the World Cup, the bond between the Galician company and the Spanish national team has been strengthened.
The manufacturing of the bus in Ourense also has an economic impact on the region. UNVI employs dozens of skilled workers and collaborates with local suppliers. Each international order, like those that will arrive in Tokyo this year, contributes to the projection of the Galician industry abroad.
The next major event for which the i23 could be required is the celebration of a possible triumph in the upcoming Euro or World Cup, although the company has not yet confirmed negotiations. What is clear is that UNVI has managed to have its name resonate alongside the greats of world football, and that Madrid residents already associate its coaches with the greatest sports joys.
You may also like
