KA-RaceIng

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.

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

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

• Formula Student racing
• Electric race cars
• Hydrogen powertrain systems
• Autonomous driving systems
• Carbon fiber chassis

Headquarters

HQ city

Karlsruhe

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. 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

Core 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

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability3 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

25 partnerships are on record, tiered premium, core and support.

• HelsingpremiumGTM or Marketing PartnerPremium sponsor for KIT26e electric vehicle program. Helsing provides sponsorship support for the team's electric race car development.
• KoepferpremiumGTM or Marketing PartnerPremium sponsor for KIT26e electric vehicle program. Koepfer provides sponsorship support for manufacturing and component development.
• MPS (Monolithic Power Systems)premiumGTM or Marketing PartnerPremium sponsor providing power electronics components and sponsorship support for the electric powertrain development.
• MCC (MicroCommercial Components)premiumGTM or Marketing PartnerPremium sponsor for electric vehicle components and development support.
• PorschepremiumGTM or Marketing PartnerPremium sponsor providing automotive industry expertise and financial support for the electric race car program.
• SyensqopremiumGTM or Marketing PartnerPremium sponsor providing advanced materials and polymer solutions for vehicle components.
• SilberformpremiumGTM or Marketing PartnerPremium sponsor for carbon fiber and composite manufacturing support.
• VacuumschmelzepremiumGTM or Marketing PartnerPremium sponsor providing magnetic materials and components for electric motor development.
• Bosch EngineeringcoreTechnology or IntegrationGold sponsor providing engineering expertise and technology solutions for powertrain and control systems development.
• SchaefflercoreGTM or Marketing PartnerGold sponsor providing bearing and powertrain components for the electric race car.
• Mercedes-AMGcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerGold sponsor providing automotive technology expertise and performance components.
• KeysightcoreTechnology or IntegrationGold sponsor providing test and measurement equipment for electronics development and validation.
• AVLcoreTechnology or IntegrationKIT26h hydrogen sponsor providing powertrain testing and simulation expertise.
• Daimler TruckcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerKIT26h hydrogen sponsor providing commercial vehicle technology expertise for hydrogen powertrain development.
• DrägercoreGTM or Marketing PartnerKIT26h sponsor providing safety equipment and sensor technology for hydrogen vehicle systems.
• ETAScoreTechnology or IntegrationKIT26h sponsor providing measurement and calibration tools for powertrain development.
• IAVcoreTechnology or IntegrationKIT26h sponsor providing automotive engineering services for hydrogen powertrain development.
• PTCcoreTechnology or IntegrationKIT25 sponsor providing CAD software (Creo) for vehicle design and development.
• BASFcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerKIT25 sponsor providing advanced materials and chemical solutions for vehicle development.
• SiemenscoreTechnology or IntegrationKIT25 sponsor providing industrial software and engineering tools.
• InniocoreTechnology or IntegrationKIT25h and KIT26h sponsor providing hydrogen engine technology and power generation solutions.
• KIT (Karlsruhe Institute of Technology)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe team's host university provides facilities, academic support, and institutional backing for the Formula Student project.
• AltairsupportTechnology or IntegrationSupporter providing simulation and CAE software for structural and thermal analysis.
• Vector InformatiksupportTechnology or IntegrationSilver sponsor providing CAN bus development tools and automotive software solutions.
• d-finecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerGold sponsor providing consulting services and technical expertise for the team.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad 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

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@KARaceIng
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ka-raceing-e-v-
• Instagraminstagram.com/karaceing
• Xx.com/KA_RaceIng

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 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 KA-RaceIng