Cero

What Cero does

CERO Design Studio S.L. is a multidisciplinary design and engineering studio headquartered in Barcelona, Spain, operating as a B2B professional services firm since at least 2009. The studio delivers end-to-end product development across five phases (Strategy, Creativity, Development, Launch, Management), integrating brand strategy, industrial design, mechanical/structural engineering, composite simulation, prototyping, testing, and industrialization under a single roof. Cero's technological backbone combines advanced CAD/CAE tooling (PTC CREO, WINDCHILL, SIMCENTER, ABAQUS, HYPERWORKS, STARCCM+) with in-house manufacturing assets including 5-axis CNC machines, a 150T SMC press, a carbon fiber composite workshop, a painting booth, and a testing lab, enabling virtual-to-physical iteration loops within one facility.

The company serves enterprise clients across five primary verticals: motorcycle manufacturers (KTM, GASGAS, Husqvarna, JJUAN), bicycle manufacturers (Mondraker, INTENSE, SRAM, FI'ZI:K), industrial vehicle manufacturers (AUSA), automotive manufacturers (Hispano Suiza, CUPRA), and consumer products (Bios Incube, NIU). Revenue is generated through project-based professional services engagements, with pricing confidential and most major projects under NDA. Notable long-tenure relationships include preferred-partner status with KTM from 2016 onward, brand DNA development for Mondraker (2009-2016), and continued trial product development for GASGAS following KTM's 2019 acquisition. Cero also operates UNNO, a proprietary premium mountain bike brand fully designed, engineered, and manufactured in-house as a technology exploration platform. Distribution is exclusively direct B2B engagement with European enterprise OEMs, with indirect global reach through client brands distributing finished products in 40+ countries.

Name

Cero

Legal name

CERO Design Studio S.L.

Website

https://wearecero.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

CERO Design Studio S.L. is a Barcelona-based multidisciplinary design and engineering studio that delivers end-to-end product development for European enterprise clients across motorcycle, bicycle, automotive, industrial vehicle, and consumer product verticals, with in-house CAD/CAE, composite manufacturing, and testing capabilities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Design & Engineering Services

NAICS

Industrial Design Services (541420), Motorcycle, Bicycle, and Parts Manufacturing (336991)

SIC

Motorcycles, Bicycles & Parts (3751)

akta.pro primary industry

Dirt Bike / Motocross / Enduro Motorcycle Manufacturing (IMACAEAH)

Keywords

• Industrial design services
• Product engineering services
• Carbon fiber prototyping
• CAD simulation services
• Vehicle design studio

Headquarters

HQ city

Barcelona

HQ country

Spain

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Design and Engineering Services: B2B professional services providing multidisciplinary design and engineering for lightweight products, from concept research to finished product. Services include brand strategy, concept design, engineering simulation, prototyping, and industrialization support.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Cero is a multidisciplinary design and engineering studio that converts product ideas into finished, manufactured goods for enterprise clients. It delivers end-to-end development—brand strategy, industrial design, mechanical/structural engineering, virtual simulation, composite prototyping, testing, and industrialization—across motorcycles, bicycles, automotive, and industrial vehicles. The studio also owns the UNNO premium mountain bike brand, which it designs, engineers, and manufactures in-house as a living lab for cutting-edge composite technologies.

Product overview

Cero is a multidisciplinary design and engineering studio based in Barcelona, operating as a comprehensive product development partner that converts ideas into finished products through five phases: Strategy, Creativity, Development, Launch, and Management. The studio offers in-house capabilities spanning brand strategy, industrial design, mechanical/structural engineering, composite simulation, prototyping, testing, and industrialization. Cero's core product portfolio includes: UNNO premium mountain bikes (their own brand for internal technology exploration), motorcycle design services for clients like KTM, GASGAS, Husqvarna, and Cupra, electric vehicle interiors for Hispano Suiza, industrial vehicles for AUSA, bicycle design for Mondraker, Intense, and SRAM, plus various specialized products including braking systems (JJUAN), smart sanitation (NIU), and plant incubators (Bios Incube). The studio leverages advanced CAD tools (PTC CREO, WINDCHILL, SIMCENTER, ABAQUS, HYPERWORKS, STARCCM+) and maintains in-house workshop capabilities including 5-axis CNC machines, SMC press, carbon fiber production, and testing facilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• UNNO: Mountain bike brand fully designed, engineered and manufactured internally at CERO. The company describes it as a 'living lab' to explore and implement cutting-edge technologies, producing the most exclusive mountain bikes with everything made in-house.

Products and services

• UNNO Mountain Bikes
• Industrial Design Services
• Mechanical & Structural Engineering Services
• Carbon Fiber Composite Manufacturing
• Virtual Simulation Services
• Prototyping & Testing Services
• Brand Strategy Services
• Industrialization Support Services

Quantifiable outcome

• 60+ bike models developed for Mondraker across multiple categories
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers18 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• KTMcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCERO is a preferred KTM development partner working on new motorcycle designs ranging from single components up to complete motorcycles since 2016-2024. Most major projects are confidential. KTM is obsessed with weight reduction and CERO supports development of their most sophisticated and top of the line models across all areas of the motorcycle including plastic parts for nearly all new models.
• GASGAScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFor 3 years until GASGAS was bought by Torrot, CERO was the sole style and R&D studio for the Spanish brand handling design of new enduro platform, engineering, and improvements on trials bikes. With KTM acquisition of the brand in 2019, CERO continues as most important partner for KTM in trial product development.
• MondrakercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrom 2009-2016, both companies worked together to create the brand DNA and develop the roadmap for all bike categories - from designing new market image to achieving impressive riding performance using newest materials and cutting-edge technologies. Helped Mondraker grow from minor player to top-level Mountain Bike Manufacturer selling in 40+ countries with 60+ bike models.
• CUPRA / SEATminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerReceived A-surfaces from CUPRA/SEAT styling and made all car partitions, part connection with chassis, reinforcements, thicknesses until parts ready for supplier. Project involved carbon fiber and glass fiber parts completed in one month.
• HusqvarnaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCERO given challenging task of adapting KTM 790 platform to fit Husqvarna Norden's design, integrating all exclusive metal and plastic parts using comprehensive engineering skills including benchmarking, layout planning, geometry precision, kinematics analysis, feasibility studies, and concept mules.
• TorrotminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAcquired GASGAS brand during CERO's 3-year period as sole style and R&D studio for GASGAS. Torrot's acquisition led to KTM also acquiring the brand in 2019.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Designworks (BMW Group): International design consultancy owned by the BMW Group with services spanning mobility, transportation, and consumer products. Comparable to Cero as a multidisciplinary design firm serving premium mobility brands with consumer, automotive, and lifestyle work.
• GK Design Group: Tokyo-based industrial design firm with extensive automotive and consumer product design heritage, founded with Ken Okuyama. Comparable to Cero in premium industrial design expertise and long-tenured engineering work with major vehicle and consumer brands.
• Bertone: Historic Italian automotive design house serving premium vehicle manufacturers with styling and engineering services. Comparable to Cero in vehicle-focused design and engineering for premium European brands with strong design-DNA expertise.
• Italdesign: Italian design and engineering firm serving premium automotive clients with integrated styling, engineering, prototyping, and low-volume production services. Comparable to Cero in offering premium motorcycle/automotive design work and end-to-end product development for major OEMs.
• EDAG: German engineering services firm providing vehicle development and industrial design services across automotive, mobility, and industrial sectors. Directly comparable to Cero as a multidisciplinary design + engineering studio serving vehicle OEMs with end-to-end capabilities (design, simulation, prototyping, industrialization).
• Pininfarina: Iconic Italian automotive design house offering industrial design, engineering, and limited-volume vehicle production. Comparable to Cero's premium positioning, multidisciplinary studio model, and brand-driven design work for premium vehicle manufacturers across motorcycles, bikes, and cars.
• Lotus Engineering: UK-based automotive engineering consultancy providing vehicle development services globally, from concept to production. Comparable to Cero as a vehicle-focused engineering design firm with deep technical expertise and a long track record of serving premium OEMs.
• Icona Design Group: Global design consultancy specializing in transportation, mobility, and consumer product design across multiple segments. Comparable to Cero as a multidisciplinary design firm serving premium mobility clients with brand, design, and engineering services.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/CeroDesign
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/1005510
• Xx.com/angulocero

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Cero