KA-RaceIng
KA-RaceIng e.V. is a non-profit, student-run Formula Student racing team at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology that designs, builds, and races electric, hydrogen combustion, and autonomous vehicles in international competitions.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2006
- HeadquartersKarlsruhe, Germany
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What KA-RaceIng does
KA-RaceIng e.V. is a non-profit, student-run Formula Student racing team affiliated with the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), founded in 2006 and headquartered at KIT Campus Ost in Karlsruhe, Germany. The organization operates as a registered German association (eingetragener Verein, e.V.) governed by a student board and fields a team of approximately 120 students across engineering, computer science, and business disciplines. Each season it designs, manufactures, and races three concurrent high-performance vehicles: a fully electric race car (KIT26e / KIT25e), a hydrogen internal-combustion race car (KIT26h / KIT25h), and a driverless autonomous variant (KIT26d / KIT25d), competing in Formula Student Germany, Austria, Czech Republic, and the Formula Future hydrogen event.
The team's technology base is built on full vertical integration of critical subsystems. Electric vehicles use in-house designed electric motors, custom inverters, high-voltage battery packs with proprietary battery management, and a carbon fiber monocoque validated via FEA simulations and layup testing. The hydrogen program encompasses custom hydrogen storage, fuel delivery, ignition, air-path control, and Bosch Motorsport ECU 6 calibration, supported by a dedicated test bench. The driverless program is built on a ROS 2 stack (C++ and Python) fusing LiDAR, IMU, ground-speed, and camera data for perception, SLAM, sensor fusion, path planning, and trajectory optimization. A Linux-based, ROS-powered Vehicle Control Unit coordinates all subsystems and integrates the autonomous module with Simulink-based vehicle dynamics control, including torque vectoring and active yaw control. A separate data engineering infrastructure (Python, TypeScript, C++, Docker, Foxglove) handles telemetry, real-time visualization, and testing analytics.
The business model is sponsorship-funded and event-driven rather than commercially revenue-generating. KA-RaceIng receives no revenue from product or service sales; all inflow originates from financial contributions, material donations, and manufacturing assistance from corporate sponsors. Premium-tier partners include Porsche, Helsing, Syensqo, MPS, Koepfer, Silberform, MCC, and Vacuumschmelze, with a broader set of gold and supporting partners spanning Bosch Engineering, Schaeffler, Mercedes-AMG, Keysight, AVL, Daimler Truck, Dräger, ETAS, IAV, PTC, BASF, Siemens, Innio, d-fine, Altair, and Vector Informatik. The primary go-to-market mechanism is competition participation, which serves as the principal vehicle for technology demonstration, sponsor engagement, and student recruitment; external distribution is limited to an owned website plus Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube channels.
KA-RaceIng firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- KA-RaceIng
- Legal name
- KA-RaceIng e.V.
- Website
- https://ka-raceing.de
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2006
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- KA-RaceIng e.V. is a non-profit, student-run Formula Student racing team at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology that designs, builds, and races electric, hydrogen combustion, and autonomous vehicles in international competitions.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
KA-RaceIng industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Formula Student Race Cars
- NAICS
- Sporting and Athletic Goods Manufacturing (33992), Motor Vehicle Manufacturing (3361)
- SIC
- Services-Racing, Including Track Operation (7948)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Motorsports Teams & Entrants (Factory & Independent) (MPAKAGAB)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Motorsports Support & Feeder Series (Developmental Championships) (MPAKAGAH)
Keywords
Where KA-RaceIng is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Karlsruhe
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
KA-RaceIng business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Sponsorships and Donations: As a non-profit association (e.V.), KA-RaceIng is funded exclusively through donations and sponsorships from companies. Support comes in forms including financial contributions, material donations, and manufacturing assistance.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels5 records
KA-RaceIng product offering
Product offeringCore offering
KA-RaceIng is a non-profit student association (e.V.) at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) that designs, builds, and races high-performance electric, hydrogen combustion, and autonomous/driverless race cars for international Formula Student competitions. Each season the team produces multiple vehicle platforms, with all major subsystems (motors, inverters, battery management, hydrogen storage and engine control, autonomous software stack, carbon fiber monocoque, vehicle dynamics control) developed in-house by student engineers.
Product overview
KA-RaceIng is a Formula Student racing team at KIT Karlsruhe that develops multiple distinct high-performance race cars each season. The portfolio includes three vehicle platforms: (1) electric race cars (KIT26e/KIT25e) featuring custom electric motors, inverters, HV battery systems, and aerodynamic packages; (2) hydrogen combustion race cars (KIT26h/KIT25h) with custom hydrogen storage, fuel delivery, and Bosch Motorsport ECU-controlled powertrains; and (3) driverless race car variants (KIT25d/KIT26d) equipped with custom autonomous driving stacks. Supporting these core vehicles are proprietary subsystems including custom vehicle control units (Linux/ROS-based), battery management systems (HV and LV), electronic control systems, carbon fiber monocoque chassis, and vehicle dynamics simulation/control software. The team also develops data engineering infrastructure for telemetry and analysis. As a non-profit student association, all development is conducted by students across multiple engineering disciplines.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- KIT26e Electric Race Car High-performance fully electric Formula Student race car built by KA-RaceIng students for international competitions, featuring custom-designed electric motors, custom inverter, HV battery system with battery management, and aerodynamic package.
- KIT26h Hydrogen Combustion Race Car Hydrogen-powered internal combustion engine Formula Student race car built by KA-RaceIng students, featuring custom hydrogen storage and tank interface, fuel injection, ignition, air path control, and engine control unit calibration.
- KIT26d Driverless Race Car Autonomous electric race car variant built by KA-RaceIng students for driverless Formula Student events, integrating a custom autonomous software stack (perception, SLAM, planning, control) with the electric powertrain and vehicle dynamics systems.
Quantifiable outcome
- Multiple 1st place finishes in Formula Student static and dynamic events across 2024-2025 seasons
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use KA-RaceIng
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles2 records
KA-RaceIng technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability3 records
Feature7 records
KA-RaceIng partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
25 partnerships are on record, tiered premium, core and support.
- HelsingpremiumPremium sponsor for KIT26e electric vehicle program. Helsing provides sponsorship support for the team's electric race car development.
- KoepferpremiumPremium sponsor for KIT26e electric vehicle program. Koepfer provides sponsorship support for manufacturing and component development.
- MPS (Monolithic Power Systems)premiumPremium sponsor providing power electronics components and sponsorship support for the electric powertrain development.
- MCC (MicroCommercial Components)premiumPremium sponsor for electric vehicle components and development support.
- PorschepremiumPremium sponsor providing automotive industry expertise and financial support for the electric race car program.
- SyensqopremiumPremium sponsor providing advanced materials and polymer solutions for vehicle components.
- SilberformpremiumPremium sponsor for carbon fiber and composite manufacturing support.
- VacuumschmelzepremiumPremium sponsor providing magnetic materials and components for electric motor development.
- Bosch EngineeringcoreGold sponsor providing engineering expertise and technology solutions for powertrain and control systems development.
- SchaefflercoreGold sponsor providing bearing and powertrain components for the electric race car.
- Mercedes-AMGcoreGold sponsor providing automotive technology expertise and performance components.
- KeysightcoreGold sponsor providing test and measurement equipment for electronics development and validation.
- AVLcoreKIT26h hydrogen sponsor providing powertrain testing and simulation expertise.
- Daimler TruckcoreKIT26h hydrogen sponsor providing commercial vehicle technology expertise for hydrogen powertrain development.
- DrägercoreKIT26h sponsor providing safety equipment and sensor technology for hydrogen vehicle systems.
- ETAScoreKIT26h sponsor providing measurement and calibration tools for powertrain development.
- IAVcoreKIT26h sponsor providing automotive engineering services for hydrogen powertrain development.
- PTCcoreKIT25 sponsor providing CAD software (Creo) for vehicle design and development.
- BASFcoreKIT25 sponsor providing advanced materials and chemical solutions for vehicle development.
- SiemenscoreKIT25 sponsor providing industrial software and engineering tools.
- InniocoreKIT25h and KIT26h sponsor providing hydrogen engine technology and power generation solutions.
- KIT (Karlsruhe Institute of Technology)coreThe team's host university provides facilities, academic support, and institutional backing for the Formula Student project.
- AltairsupportSupporter providing simulation and CAE software for structural and thermal analysis.
- Vector InformatiksupportSilver sponsor providing CAN bus development tools and automotive software solutions.
- d-finecoreGold sponsor providing consulting services and technical expertise for the team.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
KA-RaceIng competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- SAE International (Formula SAE organizers): Global organizer of Formula SAE/Formula Student competitions. Sets the rules and competition framework that KA-RaceIng competes under; ecosystem incumbent across the student motorsport category.
- Formula Student Germany e.V. Organizer of the Formula Student Germany competition at Hockenheim, the marquee event where KA-RaceIng competes annually. Operates as the regulatory/event incumbent for the German FS calendar.
Direct peers
- Oxford Brookes Racing: Oxford Brookes University's Formula Student team. Comparable scale and structure, building combustion and electric race cars for FS/Formula Student competitions with industry sponsorship.
- TUfast Racing Team (TU Munich): Formula Student team at Technical University of Munich operating electric and driverless race cars. Directly competes with KA-RaceIng at FSG, FSA, and FS Czech; comparable team size, sponsor tier, and vehicle complexity.
- GreenTeam Uni Stuttgart: Formula Student team at University of Stuttgart. Direct competitor in electric and driverless events at FSG and FSA, with comparable vertical integration of powertrain and chassis.
- AMZ (Akademischer Motorsportverein Zürich): ETH Zürich's Formula Student team, perennial FS overall winner. Directly competes in electric and driverless categories and operates at similar technical and organizational scale with comparable industry sponsors.
- Forze Hydrogen Racing (TU Delft): TU Delft hydrogen racing team. Most direct peer in hydrogen powertrain development and Formula Future competition, pursuing comparable fuel-cell and H2 propulsion work in a student-team context.
- Cambridge University Eco Racing: University of Cambridge Formula Student team. Comparable student-led engineering organization developing custom electric race cars and competing in Formula Student/SAE events.
- Delft Formula Student (DUT): DUT Racing Team, TU Delft's FS entrant. Competes directly in electric and driverless events and overlaps with KA-RaceIng at FS Czech and Formula Future.
- Formula Student Team Aachen (eMotorsports): RWTH Aachen's Formula Student team. Competes in electric and driverless categories, comparable size and German-university talent base with premium-tier automotive sponsors.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
KA-RaceIng social profiles
Digital presenceKA-RaceIng financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
KA-RaceIng leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles12 records
KA-RaceIng funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
KA-RaceIng M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about KA-RaceIng
What does KA-RaceIng do?
KA-RaceIng is a non-profit student association (e.V.) at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) that designs, builds, and races high-performance electric, hydrogen combustion, and autonomous/driverless race cars for international Formula Student competitions. Each season the team produces multiple vehicle platforms, with all major subsystems (motors, inverters, battery management, hydrogen storage and engine control, autonomous software stack, carbon fiber monocoque, vehicle dynamics control) developed in-house by student engineers.
Is KA-RaceIng a public or private company?
KA-RaceIng is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was KA-RaceIng founded?
KA-RaceIng was founded in 2006. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is KA-RaceIng based?
KA-RaceIng is headquartered in Karlsruhe, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does KA-RaceIng make money?
One revenue line is on record: sponsorships and Donations.
Who are KA-RaceIng's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are SAE International (Formula SAE organizers) and Formula Student Germany e.V.. Direct peers are Oxford Brookes Racing, TUfast Racing Team (TU Munich), GreenTeam Uni Stuttgart, AMZ (Akademischer Motorsportverein Zürich), Forze Hydrogen Racing (TU Delft), Cambridge University Eco Racing, Delft Formula Student (DUT) and Formula Student Team Aachen (eMotorsports).
Does KA-RaceIng have an API?
No public API is recorded for KA-RaceIng.
What industry is KA-RaceIng in?
KA-RaceIng's product category is Formula Student Race Cars. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAKAGAB, Motorsports Teams & Entrants (Factory & Independent), with a secondary code of MPAKAGAH, Motorsports Support & Feeder Series (Developmental Championships). Its NAICS code is 33992 and its SIC code is 7948.