Automobilwoche

What Automobilwoche does

Automobilwoche is a German-language B2B trade publication covering the automotive industry, operating since 1985 and published by Crain Communications GmbH, the German subsidiary of the US-based Crain Communications media group. The publication serves automotive professionals across OEMs (Volkswagen, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Audi, Porsche), suppliers (Bosch, Schaeffler, ZF, Continental), car dealers and retailers, analysts, consultants, and government bodies in the DACH region (Germany, Austria, Switzerland). It delivers news, market analysis, executive interviews, and regulatory coverage for a sector undergoing electrification and digitalization.

The core product set is a tiered subscription portfolio: Automobilwoche PLUS (€399/year, digital only), PREMIUM (€429/year, digital plus 26 print issues), PRINT (€249/year, print only), and ALL ACCESS (€699/year, including the Datacenter with over 8,000 industry statistics and charts). Underlying technology comprises a digital publishing platform, an e-paper with archive coverage since 2012, dedicated iOS and Android mobile applications, and a password-protected website. Content is distributed through a multi-channel approach including daily newsletters, podcasts, SEO, sponsored insights, and a portfolio of annual industry events led by the Automobilwoche Kongress in Berlin (20th edition in November 2026), the NEO Mobility Festival in Cologne, and the Triple-A Award for automotive retail.

The business model combines recurring subscription revenue across consumer and corporate multi-user licenses, advertising and sponsored insights content (with named partners including Schaeffler, 4flow, FAAREN, and Bosch), event ticket and sponsorship revenue from the conference portfolio, and one-time special edition print sales at €12 per edition. The company is privately held, family-owned via Crain Communications, and operates with a lean 1-10 employee team from Munich with subscription customer service support in Eltville.

Name

Automobilwoche

Legal name

Crain Communications GmbH

Website

https://automobilwoche.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Automobilwoche is a German-language B2B trade publication covering the automotive industry since 1985, published by Crain Communications GmbH. It serves automotive professionals across OEMs, suppliers, dealers, and analysts in the DACH region via tiered digital, print, and event subscriptions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Oberpfaffenhofen

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Digital Subscriptions: Premium digital access subscriptions providing full website access, e-paper, mobile apps, and datacenter. Includes tiered offerings from basic Plus to comprehensive All Access.
2. Print Subscriptions: Biannual print magazine delivery with 26 issues per year plus special editions.
3. Advertising: Banner advertising, sponsored content, and branded insights sections on the website and in newsletters.
4. Event Tickets and Sponsorships: Revenue from Automobilwoche Kongress (annual conference), NEO Mobility Festival, and Triple-A Award events.
5. Special Edition Prints: One-time purchase of themed special editions (Sustainability, Generation E, Teile & Systeme, etc.) priced at €12 each.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Automobilwoche is a German-language B2B trade publication delivering news, analysis, and market data for the automotive industry. It operates a multi-tier subscription model spanning digital website access, biweekly e-paper, mobile apps, print magazine (26 issues/year), and a Datacenter containing over 8,000 industry statistics and charts. The publication also runs industry events including the annual Automobilwoche Kongress and the Triple-A Award for automotive retail.

Product overview

Automobilwoche is a German-language automotive industry news publication operated by Crain Communications. The company offers a multi-tiered subscription model comprising digital and print products: Automobilwoche PLUS (digital-only), PREMIUM (digital + print), PRINT (print-only), and ALL ACCESS (comprehensive including Datacenter). The core product is the biweekly e-paper and print magazine delivering automotive industry news, analyses, and special editions. Additional offerings include a mobile app for iOS and Android, a Datacenter with over 8,000 industry statistics, and themed special editions such as Generation E (electromobility), Sustainability, and Edition Škoda. The company also organizes the annual Automobilwoche Kongress industry conference and the Triple A award for automotive retail excellence.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Automobilwoche Kongress: Annual automotive industry congress held in Berlin, celebrating its 20th edition in 2026.
• Automobilwoche Award Autohandel (Triple A)
• Automobilwoche PLUS
• Automobilwoche Datencenter

Products and services

• Automobilwoche PLUS Digital-only subscription providing full website access, e-paper, mobile apps, and digital archive. Targeted at automotive professionals seeking online industry intelligence.
• Automobilwoche PREMIUM Combined digital and print subscription including 26 print issues per year, all digital benefits, and special editions. Designed for automotive industry professionals who consume both formats.
• Automobilwoche PRINT Print-only subscription delivering 26 issues of the biweekly Automobilwoche magazine per year, including all special editions.
• Automobilwoche ALL ACCESS Comprehensive subscription combining all digital access (website, e-paper, mobile app), 26 print issues per year, and the Datacenter with over 8,000 statistics and charts.
• Automobilwoche E-Paper Digital edition of the biweekly Automobilwoche publication accessible via browser or mobile app, including all special issues and digital archive since 2012.
• Automobilwoche Mobile App Mobile application for Android and iOS providing on-the-go access to all website articles and e-paper content.
• Automobilwoche Datacenter Online data service containing over 8,000 downloadable statistics, charts, and market analyses covering registration figures, model previews, and industry data for the automotive sector.
• Sonderhefte (Special Editions) Themed special print editions covering specific automotive industry topics such as electromobility (Generation E), sustainability, parts and systems, and consulting. Sold as one-time purchases at €12 each.
• Automobilwoche Kongress Annual automotive industry conference held in Berlin featuring presentations, panel discussions, and networking opportunities for automotive industry professionals. Ticket and sponsorship revenue.
• Automobilwoche Award Autohandel (Triple A) Annual award program recognizing excellence in automotive retail and service, including associated events, nominations, and sponsorships.

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Crain CommunicationscoreOthersParent company and publisher of Automobilwoche. Crain Communications is a global media company with Automotive News as a sister publication, providing international automotive journalism network.
• SchaefflerminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsored Insights content partnership. Schaeffler publishes sponsored content under the publishing partner designation in the Insights section of the website, covering topics like hybrid transmissions and complex project management.
• 4flowminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsored Insights content partnership providing supply chain optimization content as part of the automotive industry insights section.
• FAARENminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPublishing partner for mobility marketplace and leasing solutions content, featured in the Insights section.
• BoschminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsored Insights partner covering software-defined vehicle topics and automotive technology content.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Just-Auto: Industry intelligence service for the global automotive sector, also part of the Crain/AutoNews family. Comparable B2B research and news product targeting OEMs and suppliers, with a complementary geographic and product mix.
• Automotive News: Sister publication under Crain Communications covering the global automotive industry, primarily North America. Directly comparable B2B auto industry news brand with subscriptions, events and data products serving OEMs, suppliers and dealers.
• WardsAuto: US-focused automotive industry intelligence brand covering OEMs, suppliers and technology trends. Comparable B2B auto industry publication with subscriptions, data and events for industry professionals.
• kfz-betrieb: Long-established German automotive trade magazine from Vogel Communications covering workshops, dealers and the aftermarket. Comparable B2B auto trade publication with print, digital and event products targeting the same DACH service and retail segments.
• Autohaus: German-language B2B trade publication focused on automotive retail and service, published by Vogel Communications Group. Direct competitor for the dealer, retail and aftermarket audience Automobilwoche serves in DACH.
• Automobil Industrie: German B2B magazine and digital platform for the automotive supplier and manufacturing industry, published by Konradin Media. Directly comparable in covering Tier 1 and Tier 2 suppliers, technology and production topics in DACH.

Emerging players

• Carscoops: Digital-native global automotive news outlet covering OEMs, new models and industry developments. Emerging digital player that competes for OEM news attention and advertiser budgets, though less B2B-focused than Automobilwoche.
• electrive.com: Digital-first B2B publication focused on electric mobility and commercial EVs in Europe. Emerging specialist that competes for the same EV and e-mobility audience segment Automobilwoche targets with its Generation E coverage.

Broad incumbents

• auto motor und sport: Established German automotive media brand from Motor Presse Stuttgart covering news, tests and technology. Broader incumbent with overlapping automotive journalism but more enthusiast-focused than Automobilwoche's professional B2B positioning.
• Auto Bild: Mass-market German automotive magazine and digital platform from Axel Springer. Larger incumbent that overlaps with Automobilwoche's audience on OEM news, new model coverage and industry trends but skews more consumer than pure B2B.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/automobilwoche
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/automobilwoche
• Instagraminstagram.com/automobilwoche
• Facebookfacebook.com/jobs.automobilwoche

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 Automobilwoche