Washtec

What Washtec does

WashTec AG is a German publicly traded Aktiengesellschaft headquartered in Augsburg and the global market leader in professional car wash technology. The company serves gas station operators, wash park operators, dealerships, truck and bus fleet operators, and supermarket/retail customers through an integrated portfolio spanning hardware systems, digital platforms, car wash chemistry, water recovery solutions, and a global service network of more than 600 own technicians. Its installed base exceeds 50,000 machines across more than 80 countries, processing over 3 million vehicle washes daily. The North American subsidiary Mark VII and chemistry subsidiary AUWA-Chemie anchor regional and consumable operations, respectively.

WashTec's technology stack combines physical wash equipment — including portal systems (SmartCare Connect, SoftCare SE/Juno/Takt), self-service units (JetWash Connect), conveyor wash streets with linear wheel washers, and truck/bus wash systems — with a digital platform ecosystem comprising EasyCarWash PRO (subscription enablement), WashNow (multi-channel booking and payment routing), CarWash Assist (customer loyalty and recommendation), SmartSite (site management), and Wash & Pay (contactless payments). The SmartCare Connect platform delivers AI-driven predictive maintenance and remote support over connected-systems telemetry, while AUWA-Chemie provides proprietary wash chemistry and water-recovery systems address operator sustainability requirements. BigRep industrial-scale 3D printing is used for in-house parts manufacturing.

The business model is multi-stream: hardware sales (portal, conveyor, self-service, truck/bus equipment), recurring service revenue from the technician network, usage-based chemistry and consumables, subscription-based digital platforms, and professional planning and financing services. Distribution combines direct enterprise sales, regional dealers, a company-operated e-commerce shop (carwash-shop.com), and the WashNow digital channel partner network. Reported FY2025 revenue was a record EUR 498.6 million at a 9.8% EBIT margin, with Q3 2025 EBIT growth of 35.8%, and the company's stated 2026 outlook is profitable growth with North America as the central geography for expansion.

Name

Washtec

Legal name

WashTec AG

Website

https://washtec.de

Company type

Public

Founded year

1962

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

WashTec AG is the global market leader in professional car wash technology, offering integrated hardware systems, digital platforms, chemistry, and global service to car wash operators, fuel stations, dealerships, and fleet operators across 80+ countries with 50,000+ installed machines.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Car Wash Equipment

NAICS

Soap and Cleaning Compound Manufacturing (32561), Measuring, Dispensing, and Other Pumping Equipment Manufacturing (333914)

SIC

Specialty Cleaning, Polishing And Sanitation Preparations (2842)

akta.pro primary industry

Pressure Washing & Jetting Equipment (IMAHALAB)

Keywords

• Car wash equipment
• Vehicle wash technology
• Car wash chemistry
• Water recovery systems
• Digital car wash solutions

Headquarters

HQ city

Augsburg

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Equipment Sales: Sale of professional car wash equipment including portal/roll-over systems (SoftCare SE, SoftCare Juno, SoftCare Takt), conveyor wash systems, self-service systems (JetWash Connect), truck and bus wash systems, and linear wheel washers. Equipment sales represent a significant portion of revenue and are complemented by the company's broad installed base.
2. Global Service: Service and maintenance operations generating recurring revenue through a network of over 600 own technicians globally. The company emphasizes this as a core driver of recurring revenue and customer loyalty, with a strategic shift toward data-driven, proactive, and digital service solutions supported by connected systems and remote support tools.
3. Car Wash Chemistry (Autowaschchemie): Sale of wash chemistry products, cleaning agents, and consumables (including AUWA-Chemie brand) that are used in WashTec equipment and represent a recurring consumables revenue stream.
4. Digital Solutions: Revenue from digital platforms including SmartCare Connect, EasyCarWash PRO, WashNow, CarWash Assist, and SmartSite, enabling subscription-based business models and digital customer management for car wash operators.
5. Water Recovery Systems: Sale of water recovery and recycling systems that complement the equipment portfolio and address sustainability needs of operators.
6. Planning & Financing Services: Professional services including planning support and financing solutions for new car wash installations and operator expansion.
7. Accessories (Zubehör): Sale of accessories and spare parts for car wash equipment maintenance and upgrades.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

WashTec designs, manufactures, sells, and services professional car wash equipment (portal, conveyor, self-service, and truck/bus wash systems), wash chemistry and water recovery systems, and an integrated suite of digital platforms (SmartCare Connect, EasyCarWash PRO, WashNow, CarWash Assist, SmartSite, Wash & Pay). It supports the installed base of 50,000+ machines across 80+ countries through a global service network of over 600 technicians and offers industry-specific customer solutions for gas stations, wash parks, dealerships, fleet operators, and retailers.

Product overview

WashTec is the global market leader in professional car wash technology, operating as a comprehensive solution provider with over 50,000 installations across more than 80 countries, processing over 3 million vehicle washes daily. The company offers an integrated portfolio of hardware systems (portal wash systems including SmartCare Connect, SoftCare SE/Juno/Takt; self-service JetWash Connect; conveyor wash streets with Linearer Radwäscher; and truck/bus wash systems), digital solutions (EasyCarWash PRO for subscriptions, WashNow for multi-channel booking/payments, CarWash Assist for customer management, SmartSite for site management, and Wash & Pay for contactless payments), and chemical/water recovery products (Autowaschchemie and Wasserrückgewinnung). This hardware-software-chemistry ecosystem is supported by a global service network of over 600 technicians and delivered through industry-specific customer solutions for gas stations, wash parks, car dealerships, truck/bus operators, and supermarkets. The company positions itself around three strategic pillars: service as the business backbone, digitalization and data as efficiency drivers, and consumables and green products as growth drivers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SmartCare Connect: Portal wash system with connected digital capabilities
• SoftCare SE
• SoftCare Juno
• SoftCare Takt
• JetWash Connect
• EasyCarWash PRO
• WashNow
• CarWash Assist
• Wash & Pay
• SmartSite
• SmartCare
• AUWA-Chemie

Products and services

• SmartCare Connect Portal wash system with connected digital capabilities enabling remote maintenance, AI-driven predictive maintenance, and proactive service interventions. Serves as the digital hub for networked car wash operations.
• SoftCare SE Portal wash system designed for efficient vehicle cleaning with standard features suitable for various car wash operations.
• SoftCare Juno Portal wash system offering enhanced washing capabilities for mid-size to large car wash operations.
• SoftCare Takt High-throughput portal wash system designed for operations requiring fast cycle times and increased capacity.
• JetWash Connect Modular, digitally networked self-service car wash system ready for new business models. The next generation of self-service washing with modern digital connectivity.
• Linearer Radwäscher (Linear Wheel Washer) Conveyor-based linear wheel washing system for integrated wash street operations handling wheel and body cleaning in a continuous process.
• Lkw- und Buswaschanlagen (Truck and Bus Wash Systems) Specialized truck and bus wash systems designed for commercial vehicle cleaning operations, part of the Truck & Bus customer solution segment.
• EasyCarWash PRO Digital platform enabling subscription-based business models and customer management capabilities, allowing independent car wash operators to adopt unlimited wash club-style subscription services.
• WashNow Digital platform connecting car washes to online booking and payment channels including in-car systems, fuel cards, and car-sharing providers, enabling operators to access multiple digital sales channels.
• CarWash Assist Digital customer management platform supporting uptime and customer loyalty through connected systems and proactive maintenance features.
• SmartSite Digital site management solution for car wash operations, part of the digital solutions portfolio for operational management.
• Wash & Pay Contactless payment solution integrated with JetWash Connect self-service wash systems, enabling cashless and convenient payment options for end customers.
• Autowaschchemie (Car Wash Chemistry - AUWA-Chemie) Professional car wash chemistry products (AUWA-Chemie brand) including cleaning agents, waxes, and treatment solutions optimized for use with WashTec equipment, forming a recurring consumables revenue stream.
• Wasserrückgewinnung (Water Recovery Systems) Water recycling and recovery systems that reduce water consumption and environmental impact, supporting sustainability initiatives in car wash operations.
• Service & Support Comprehensive service and technical support network with over 600 own technicians providing maintenance, repairs, upgrades, and digital support across the global installation base, generating recurring service revenue.
• Planung & Finanzierung (Planning & Financing) Professional planning and financing services supporting operators in site planning, equipment selection, and investment planning for car wash installations.
• Customer Solutions (Industry-Specific Solution Packages) Industry-specific solution packages for gas stations (Tankstellen), wash parks (Waschparks), car dealerships (Autohäuser), truck and bus operators, and supermarket chains (Supermärkte), offering tailored car wash configurations for each customer segment.

Quantifiable outcome

• 35.8% EBIT growth in Q3 2025, driven by digital offerings and efficiency initiatives
• +3 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability7 records

Feature9 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• SuperoperatorcoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2026WashTec partnered with digital specialist Superoperator to expand capabilities in networking and digital customer management. This partnership strengthens WashTec's digital platform ecosystem by adding Superoperator's expertise in networking and digital customer engagement for car wash operators.
• rydcoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2026WashTec partnered with in-car payment pioneer ryd for the WashNow platform pilot project. Ryd's in-car payment technology enables WashNow to connect car washes with in-vehicle payment systems, allowing drivers to seamlessly book and pay for washes directly from their vehicles.
• Präg GroupcoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2026WashTec completed successful pilot projects with German gas station operator Präg Group for the WashNow platform, demonstrating the integration of online booking and payment channels with Präg Group's gas station car wash operations.
• Mister Car WashminorOthersWashTec positions itself as a technology partner enabling independent car wash operators to adopt subscription-based business models similar to those pioneered by Mister Car Wash, which has built a 2.2 million-member Unlimited Wash Club subscriber base. This is a competitive reference rather than a formal partnership.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Istobal: Spanish manufacturer of professional car wash equipment including portal, conveyor, and self-service systems with global distribution. Istobal competes directly with WashTec across Europe, Latin America, and adjacent markets in the same product categories.
• National Carwash Solutions (NCS): US-based provider of car wash equipment, chemistry, and service solutions. NCS competes head-to-head with WashTec in North America across equipment and consumables and serves many of the same operator segments.
• MK Solutions: Brazil-based manufacturer of car wash equipment with growing international presence. MK Solutions is a direct equipment peer competing in Latin America and select other geographies where WashTec also operates.
• PDQ Manufacturing: US-based manufacturer of in-bay automatic and tunnel car wash equipment. PDQ is a direct competitor to WashTec's SoftCare portal systems and JetWash self-service systems in the North American market.
• SONNY'S Enterprises: US-based manufacturer of conveyor car wash equipment, wash chemistry, and site controls. SONNY's competes directly with WashTec/Mark VII for North American conveyor wash operators and offers a comparable hardware-chemistry-control bundle.
• Tommy Car Wash Systems: US manufacturer of conveyor and express car wash systems with associated chemistry. Tommy competes with WashTec/Mark VII for conveyor wash business among US express operators and chain accounts.
• Belanger (Dover subsidiary): US-based manufacturer of soft-touch car wash equipment and chemistry, part of Dover. Belanger competes directly with WashTec's SoftCare portal family for North American in-bay automatic accounts.
• Dover Corporation: US-listed industrial conglomerate owning car wash equipment brands Belanger and Ryko Solutions. WashTec explicitly identifies Dover as its primary competitor in North America, making it the closest direct peer in car wash hardware and service.
• Ryko Solutions (Dover subsidiary): US car wash equipment and chemistry brand owned by Dover Corporation, focused on tunnel and in-bay automatics. Ryko's tunnel/conveyor product line directly overlaps WashTec's conveyor and portal systems in the North American market.

Broad incumbents

• Kärcher: Global leader in cleaning technology with a broad professional and consumer cleaning portfolio including pressure washing. Overlaps with WashTec in industrial vehicle washing solutions but operates across a much wider cleaning universe.

Market position

Strengths2 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/WashTecTV
• Facebookfacebook.com/WashTec.Deutschland
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/washtec-holding-gmbh
• Instagraminstagram.com/washtec_deutschland
• Xx.com/washtec_ag

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Washtec