What CAF Power & Automation does

CAF Power & Automation is a Spain-based railway propulsion and components manufacturer founded in 2012 and operating as a division within publicly listed CAF Group (Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles, S.A.). The company designs and manufactures electric traction systems including DC and AC converters, traction motors, transformers, filtering inductances and braking resistors, alongside energy storage systems under the GREENTECH brand, hydrogen and lithium-ion battery propulsion (OESS), and a proprietary Train Control and Management System called TCMS COSMOS. Its components portfolio extends to wheels, axles, elastic wheels, gearboxes, and fully mounted axle solutions, with over 50 years of gear reducer manufacturing heritage.

The business sells through direct enterprise B2B field sales targeting three primary customer segments: passenger rail operators and transit authorities (high-speed, regional, commuter, metro, light rail), freight railway operators, and train OEMs. Revenue derives from hardware sales of propulsion and component systems, modernization and retrofit upgrades for existing locomotives, proactive maintenance and support services delivered across 35+ countries, and advisory services for end-of-life component recycling. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed, consistent with complex, customized B2B industrial procurement.

CAF Power & Automation competes on the basis of vertical integration (internal manufacturing of key components), a large installed base (5,000+ converter boxes, 12,000+ AC traction motors, 15+ million km of battery operation), and a global service network spanning the Americas, Europe, Africa and Asia-Pacific. Its product roadmap is oriented toward rail decarbonization through battery, hydrogen and hybrid propulsion for non-electrified routes, positioning it within the broader rolling stock power conversion market projected to grow from USD 5.66B in 2025 to USD 8.00B by 2034.

Name

CAF Power & Automation

Legal name

Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles, S.A.

Website

https://cafpower.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

CAF Power & Automation, a division of publicly listed CAF Group, designs and manufactures electric traction converters, battery and hydrogen propulsion systems, energy storage solutions, and mounted axle components for railway operators, train OEMs and freight companies across 35+ countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Railway Propulsion Systems

NAICS

Motor and Generator Manufacturing (335312), Electrical Equipment Manufacturing (33531)

SIC

Railroad Equipment (3743), Motors & Generators (3621)

akta.pro primary industry

Traction Motor, Generator & Electrical Rotating Equipment Repair (TLAKAIAE)

Keywords

• Railway traction systems
• Electric propulsion components
• Railway energy storage
• Mounted axle solutions
• Train control systems

Headquarters

HQ city

San Sebastian

HQ country

Spain

HQ region

Europe

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Propulsion and Component Sales: Sale of electric traction converters, motors, transformers, battery systems, hydrogen propulsion systems, wheels, axles, and mounted axles to railway operators and train manufacturers. Products are designed for 30-year operational lifespan.
2. Maintenance and Support Services: Proactive maintenance services for railway components ensuring uninterrupted and reliable operations. Includes routine maintenance, emergency repairs, and lifecycle management. Service presence in USA, Mexico, Brazil, Europe, Canada, Australia, South Africa and 35 other countries.
3. Modernization and Upgrade Solutions: AC traction upgrades and lithium-ion battery propulsion modernization for existing locomotives. Enables freight operators to upgrade legacy fleets with modern propulsion technology.
4. End-of-Life Transition Services: Advisory and expert services for sustainable disposal and recycling of railway components at end of lifecycle, promoting recyclability and avoiding waste.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

CAF Power & Automation designs and manufactures electric traction systems (DC/AC converters, traction motors, transformers), energy storage systems (GREENTECH), hydrogen and lithium-ion battery propulsion, Train Control and Management System (TCMS COSMOS), and railway components (wheels, axles, gearboxes, mounted axles). The company also provides maintenance services and end-of-life recycling solutions for railway operators, train manufacturers, and freight companies globally.

Product overview

CAF Power & Automation operates as a multi-module platform specializing in railway propulsion, components and digital systems. The portfolio centers on electric and hydrogen-based traction systems (Sistemas de tracción eléctrica, Soluciones de propulsión AC) as the core platform, complemented by proprietary energy storage solutions (GREENTECH, Tecnología de baterías de hidrógeno, Baterías de propulsión de Ión-Litio) and train management systems (TCMS COSMOS, Sistemas de control y comunicación). The offering is extended with manufactured components (Ruedas, Ejes, Ruedas elásticas, Reductoras, Ejes montados) and services (Soluciones de mantenimiento, Soluciones para el final de la vida útil). This integrated approach allows CAF to deliver complete propulsion chains from traction converters through motors, transformers and wheels to end-of-life recycling, positioning the company as a full-system provider rather than a single-product vendor.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• GREENTECH: Energy storage systems for the railway sector that enable catenary-free operation by capturing braking energy, designed with environmental care and promoting clean, sustainable rail transport.

Products and services

• Electric Traction Systems Complete range of electric traction converters in DC and AC formats with modular, configurable, turnkey solutions specifying all traction chain components including traction motors, main transformers, filtering inductances, and braking resistors for railway operators and OEMs.
• GREENTECH Energy Storage Systems World-leading railway energy storage systems enabling catenary-free operation through braking energy recovery, with vertical control of components, system integration, train implementation, and modular adaptability for sustainable rail transport.
• Hydrogen Battery Technology Sustainable hydrogen-powered and battery-powered propulsion solutions for diesel train replacement on non-electrified routes, including hybrid vehicles (pantograph and battery) and bimodal vehicles (catenary and hydrogen) for zero-emission operations.
• Ion-Lithium Propulsion Batteries (OESS) Over 15 years of battery propulsion experience with OESS technology covering over 15 million kilometers of catenary-free operation; high-power LTO and high-energy density NMC and LFP lithium-ion batteries integrated across locomotives, tender cars and power cars.
• TCMS COSMOS Train Control and Management System Train Control and Management System enabling compatibility and integration into new and renovated vehicles, managing traction systems and overall train operations including control, supervision and diagnosis of railway vehicles.
• Railway Control and Communication Systems Control, supervision and diagnosis systems for railway vehicles with support for MVB, WTB, ETB, ECN/TRDP, RS-485 and CAN communication buses, Ethernet network integration, wireless communications, HMI development, data acquisition and monitoring, and cybersecurity.
• AC Propulsion Solutions for Locomotives Modern AC traction upgrades and lithium-ion battery propulsion for freight locomotives from a single point of contact, featuring IGBT and Silicon Carbide (SiC) based inverter cabinets with over 5,000 converter boxes and 12,000 AC traction motors developed using proprietary technology and modular design.
• Railway Wheels (Ruedas) Railway wheels forming the foundation of reliable railway systems, setting the standard in performance, safety and durability for high-speed trains, freight locomotives and light rail systems.
• Railway Axles (Ejes) High-quality axles designed with precision to ensure optimal performance in all types of trains, representing CAF's commitment to railway system reliability.
• Elastic Wheels (Ruedas elásticas) Elastic wheels combining durability and efficiency for superior ride quality, designed for smoother and quieter operation while minimizing wear on trams and light rail vehicles.
• Gearboxes (Reductoras) Lightweight, durable and highly efficient gearboxes with over 50 years of experience in design, manufacturing and supply, adapted to any type of rolling stock with flexible manufacturing and LEAN practices ensuring reliability and precision.
• Mounted Axles (Ejes montados) Complete axle solutions with CAF pioneering integrated mounted axle solutions using proprietary technology; internal manufacturing of key components ensures total traceability, simplified supply chains, reduced delivery times and minimized carbon footprint.
• Maintenance Solutions Proactive care of railway components ensuring uninterrupted and reliable operations, from routine maintenance to emergency repairs with expert support keeping railway systems running smoothly.
• End-of-Life Solutions Expert advice and services facilitating sustainable transitions for railway components reaching end-of-life, promoting recyclability and preventing waste of any type of part.

Quantifiable outcome

• 20-45% increase in starting traction effort
• +4 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Siemens Mobility: Siemens Mobility is a direct competitor in rail electrification, offering Vectron locomotives, AC traction systems, propulsion converters and rail energy management — the closest large-scale rival to CAF Power & Automation's propulsion portfolio.
• Alstom: Alstom supplies electric and hydrogen traction systems (including its iLint hydrogen train and Atlas/Avelia platforms) for passenger and freight rail, directly overlapping with CAF Power & Automation's battery and hydrogen propulsion offerings.
• Hitachi Rail: Hitachi Rail (including the former AnsaldoBreda / Ansaldo STS businesses) manufactures traction systems, rolling stock and signaling, competing head-to-head with CAF Power & Automation in propulsion converters and electric traction components.
• Wabtec: Wabtec (including GE Transportation) supplies locomotives, propulsion systems and aftermarket services for freight rail, making it a direct competitor in AC traction upgrades and battery/hybrid freight locomotive modernization — a core CAF Power & Automation segment.
• Stadler Rail: Stadler Rail builds locomotives, multiple units and trams including battery-electric and hydrogen variants (FLIRT H2), making it a direct peer in zero-emission rail propulsion alongside CAF Power & Automation.

Broad incumbents

• ABB: ABB supplies traction converters, motors and power electronics across rail rolling stock as part of its broader industrial electrification portfolio. It is a broad incumbent with overlapping but not exclusively rail-focused product lines, making it a benchmark competitor in SiC and IGBT inverter technology.
• Mitsubishi Electric: Mitsubishi Electric manufactures rail traction inverters, motors and energy storage systems as part of its industrial automation portfolio, competing with CAF Power & Automation in power electronics for high-speed and commuter rail globally.
• Toshiba Infrastructure Systems: Toshiba supplies rail propulsion systems, traction motors and SCiB lithium-ion battery technology for railways. It overlaps with CAF Power & Automation in traction converters and battery propulsion, particularly across Asian and European rail markets.

Emerging players

• Knorr-Bremse: Knorr-Bremse is primarily a braking systems supplier but increasingly bundles traction-adjacent rail subsystems and digital rail services, positioning it as an emerging adjacent competitor in integrated propulsion and rolling stock component packages.

Others

• Bombardier Transportation (now Alstom): Bombardier's rail propulsion business was absorbed by Alstom in 2021; the combined entity continues to be a benchmark supplier of traction converters, control systems and rolling stock relevant to CAF Power & Automation's market positioning.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCWdxu6vd2ls2seIONssqTqQ
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/caf-mobility
• Xx.com/cafpowerautomat

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 CAF Power & Automation