DEGENER Verlag

What DEGENER Verlag does

DEGENER Verlag GmbH is a privately held German specialty publisher and full-range B2B supplier (Vollsortiment) for the German driving school (Fahrschule) market, headquartered in Hannover and operating since 1934. The company serves driving schools, driving instructors (Fahrlehrer), and professional driver training institutions (Berufskraftfahrer-Ausbildungsstätten) with a vertically integrated product ecosystem spanning print textbooks and workbooks, browser-based teaching and learning software, administration platforms, driving simulators, and mixed-reality vehicle familiarization. Its core proprietary software platforms — CLICK & LEARN 360° online (student learning with an AI-driven flashcard system), SCAN & TEACH 360° RED (browser-based instructor software, also offered offline), and FAHRSCHULOFFICE 360° (school administration) — share the 360° branding and are designed to interoperate, with student progress from the Dr!ve mixed-reality module feeding back into FAHRSCHULOFFICE records.

DEGENER monetizes through four streams: (1) one-time sales of books, learning material sets, classroom hardware, and furniture; (2) recurring annual software subscriptions (CLICK & LEARN, SCAN & TEACH, FAHRSCHULOFFICE) with a "Spar-Abo" discount program yielding up to 10% savings; (3) higher-ticket hardware sales of driving simulators (simdrive 4, simdrive XS, simdrive TRUCK) with optional motion systems and software modules, supported by leasing/financing; and (4) professional services for simulator setup, installation, training, and webinars. Distribution is exclusively direct via degener.de and a field-sales consultant (Fachberater) channel, with customer-account registration required to view pricing and purchase — restricting access to verified driving schools and instructors rather than private end-users. The company is led by two managing directors, Dr. Max-Georg Büchner and Michael Hühn, with no disclosed outside equity or parent-company involvement.

Name

DEGENER Verlag

Legal name

DEGENER Verlag GmbH

Website

https://degener.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1934

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

DEGENER Verlag GmbH is a German specialty publisher and full-range B2B supplier to driving schools, instructors, and professional driver training institutions, offering integrated print textbooks, proprietary software (learning, teaching, administration), driving simulators, and mixed-reality tools.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Hanover

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Product Sales (Books, Materials, Hardware): One-time purchase revenue from textbooks, question booklets, learning material sets, driving school equipment, furniture, warning devices, signs, and accessories. Products are sold individually and in bundles (Lernmittel-Sets) with various configurations for different license classes (A, B, C, D, T, AM, Mofa).
2. Software Subscriptions and Licenses: Recurring revenue from software products including CLICK & LEARN 360° online (learning software), SCAN & TEACH 360° RED (teaching software), FAHRSCHULOFFICE 360° (administration), and extension licenses. Subscription model with annual billing and discount options for multi-year commitments. Free registration required to view pricing.
3. Driving Simulators and Hardware: Sale of physical driving simulators (simdrive 4, simdrive XS, simdrive TRUCK) with optional motion systems and software upgrade modules. Leasing and financing options available for expensive simulator purchases.
4. Professional Services: Setup, installation, and training services for driving simulators and software products. Webinars and personal presentations offered for software products like SCAN & TEACH 360° RED.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

DEGENER Verlag is a specialist German publisher and full-range supplier for driving schools, offering printed learning materials, proprietary management and learning software, driving simulators, and classroom equipment. The company develops and distributes branded product lines such as CLICK & LEARN, SCAN & TEACH, FAHRSCHULOFFICE, simdrive simulators, and the 360° textbook series to driving schools, driving instructors, and vocational training institutions in Germany and German-speaking markets.

Product overview

DEGENER Verlag is a full-range supplier for driving schools and commercial driver training, offering an integrated product ecosystem combining software, hardware, and print materials. The core software portfolio centers on three interconnected platforms: CLICK & LEARN 360° online (student learning software with AI-powered flashcard system), SCAN & TEACH 360° RED (browser-based teaching software for instructors with offline option), and FAHRSCHULOFFICE 360° (administration/management software with add-on modules for payment processing and student portals). The hardware range includes driving simulators (simdrive 4, simdrive XS, simdrive TRUCK for cars and trucks/buses), Dr!ve Mixed Reality vehicle familiarization, SMART interactive displays, and computer equipment. Print products include textbooks (360° Das Buch series), workbooks (Workbook 360° Fahraufgaben), practice materials, learning games, and specialized materials for commercial driver training (BKF), driver instructor education, ASF/FES seminars, and B196 motorcycle extensions. Products are designed as an integrated 360° ecosystem where materials across software, print, and simulators work together for consistent learning outcomes.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CLICK & LEARN 360° online: Online learning software for driving school students with examination preparation features
• SCAN & TEACH 360° RED
• FAHRSCHULOFFICE 360°
• Dr!ve
• 360° simdrive
• FAHRSCHUL-CAMPUS 360°

Products and services

• CLICK & LEARN 360° online

Quantifiable outcome

• Driving simulator training can replace 4 of 10 required practical training hours in accelerated professional driver qualification
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability1 record

Feature6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• DEKRA Akademie: DEKRA's training division operates commercial driver qualification and professional development programs. Comparable to DEGENER's BKF-Trainer and professional driver training content offering.
• ADAC Fahrschule: Germany's largest automobile club operates its own driving school services and educational offerings. A much broader organization, but overlapping with DEGENER's target customer base and adjacent to its driver education content offerings.
• TÜV SÜD Akademie: Part of the TÜV SÜD group, the Akademie delivers commercial driver qualification (BKF) training and certification. Overlaps with DEGENER's BKF product line in the professional driver training vertical.
• Ernst Klett Verlag: One of Germany's largest educational publishers, with presence in vocational and professional education materials. Comparable to DEGENER's textbook publishing business but across a much broader educational portfolio.
• Springer Nature: Parent organization of Heinrich Vogel/Springer Fachmedien and a global academic and professional publisher. Provides scale backdrop against which DEGENER's specialized driving school niche is contrasted.
• Pearson plc: Global education publisher and assessment company with vocational and professional learning products. Useful as a comparable for educational content-to-software migration and recurring revenue model.

Direct peers

• Heinrich Vogel / Springer Fachmedien: Heinrich Vogel, now under Springer Fachmedien, is the other major German publisher of driving school materials including the long-running "Fahrschule" trade magazine and driving school textbooks. Directly comparable in core publishing business and target vertical.
• Laacks GmbH: Laacks is a German supplier of driving school equipment and materials (signs, cones, warning devices, classroom hardware). Overlaps with DEGENER's equipment and accessories revenue lines within the same driving school customer base.

Regional players

• ÖAMTC Fahrtechnik: Austria's largest automobile club with driver training centers and educational services. Comparable offering and customer segment to DEGENER but focused on the Austrian market, illustrating the regional expansion template.

Others

• Cruden B.V. Netherlands-based driving simulator developer and supplier to driver training markets globally. Adjacent/partner rather than direct competitor — provides simulator technology to driving schools, similar role to DEGENER's simdrive hardware business.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights8 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/degener
• Facebookfacebook.com/degener.hannover
• Instagraminstagram.com/degener_verlag
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/degener-verlag-gmbh

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 DEGENER Verlag