Deutsches Verkehrsforum

What Deutsches Verkehrsforum does

Deutsches Verkehrsforum (DVF), formally Deutsches Verkehrsforum e.V., is a registered non-profit industry association founded in 1984 and headquartered at Klingelhöferstraße 7 in Berlin, Germany. The organization self-describes as the only cross-modal (verkehrsträgerübergreifende) business association in Europe, convening approximately 160 member companies spanning rail, road, aviation, ports and shipping, railway technology, logistics, and automotive transport. Its core function is policy advocacy and think-tank research for the German and European mobility sector, covering topics including infrastructure planning and financing, digitalization, climate and energy transformation, security, and European transport policy.

DVF does not operate a commercial technology product. Its "outputs" are institutional knowledge products and convening services: position papers (e.g., the "Infrastruktur-Pakt für Deutschland" in November 2025 and EU cybersecurity Stellungnahme in May 2026), the recurring PolitikBrief newsletter, annual reports, topic-specific Lenkungskreis (steering committees) covering each transport mode and policy area, an active press and media presence, a podcast series ("DVFragt nach" and crisis-themed episodes), and the annual Deutscher Mobilitätskongress. The association engages directly with senior EU policymakers (e.g., the June 2026 meeting with EU Commissioner Tzitzikostas) and provides formal Stellungnahme submissions into German and EU legislative processes.

The business model is membership-funded, with revenue derived from corporate member contributions rather than disclosed pricing tiers. The organization is governed by a Präsidium (board) drawn from member companies and led operationally by two Geschäftsführer (Managing Directors), Dr. Heike van Hoorn and Dr. Florian Eck. Membership-named logos include Deutsche Bahn AG, BMW Group, Airbus, duisport, MOSOLF Group, and Go-Ahead, spanning rail, automotive, aviation, ports, and logistics sub-sectors. Founded in 1984, DVF operates as a mature institutional advocacy body rather than a venture-backed growth company.

Name

Deutsches Verkehrsforum

Legal name

Deutsches Verkehrsforum e.V.

Website

https://verkehrsforum.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Deutsches Verkehrsforum (DVF) is a Berlin-based, 1984-founded non-profit industry association and Europe's only cross-modal transport and mobility business association, representing approximately 160 member companies across rail, road, aviation, ports, and logistics through policy advocacy, position papers, and industry events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Deutsches Verkehrsforum (DVF) is a cross-modal industry association and think tank that provides policy advocacy, position papers, networking events, working groups (Lenkungskreise), newsletters (PolitikBrief), and the annual Deutscher Mobilitätskongress to approximately 160 member companies spanning all transport modes (rail, road, aviation, shipping, ports, logistics). Its offerings are aimed at improving transportation conditions and shaping mobility policy in Germany and Europe.

Product overview

Deutsches Verkehrsforum (DVF) is a cross-modal industry association and think tank for mobility in Germany and Europe, not a technology product company. It does not offer commercial software products or services. DVF provides platforms for dialogue, knowledge sharing, and policy advocacy among approximately 160 member companies across all transport modes (rail, road, ports, aviation, logistics). Its offerings include policy positions, newsletters (PolitikBrief), annual reports, network events (Lenkungskreise), surveys, press releases, background analysis, and the annual German Mobility Congress. The organization focuses on topics including digitalization, infrastructure, climate/energy, European policy, and safety across transport sectors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Membership Program (Mitgliedschaft) Core membership offering for enterprise transportation and mobility companies, granting access to DVF's policy advocacy, position papers, networking events, working groups, and direct engagement with German and EU policymakers.
• Deutscher Mobilitätskongress (German Mobility Congress) Annual congress event convened by DVF bringing together mobility industry leaders and policymakers to discuss transport policy, infrastructure, and cross-modal mobility topics.
• Lenkungskreise (Steering Committees) Mode-specific and topic-specific working groups (e.g., Schienenverkehr, Straßenverkehr, Häfen und Schifffahrt, Digitale Vernetzung) where DVF members collaborate on policy positions and industry intelligence.
• PolitikBrief (Policy Brief Newsletter) Regular DVF policy newsletter providing members and stakeholders with current positions and analyses on mobility and transportation policy in Germany and the EU.
• Position Papers (Positionen) Formal DVF position papers articulating the association's policy stance on key transport, infrastructure, digitalization, climate, and European mobility topics for use by members and external policymakers.
• DVFragt nach Podcast Series

Named customers6 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• ERTICO – ITS Europe: Public-private partnership focused on intelligent transport systems and mobility digitalization in Europe. Comparable as a cross-stakeholder platform with policy advocacy and member services in the transport digitalization domain that DVF also covers.
• Allianz pro Schiene: German pro-rail association advocating for modal shift to rail. Directly comparable as a German mobility advocacy group using policy papers, events, and member networking, but specialized to rail rather than cross-modal.
• European Transport Safety Council (ETSC): Brussels-based independent non-profit focused on transport safety policy across all modes in Europe. Directly comparable cross-modal safety/policy advocacy remit with member-driven structure akin to DVF.
• Verband Deutscher Verkehrsunternehmen (VDV): German industry association representing public transport and rail operators. Directly comparable to DVF as a German transport-sector membership association engaged in policy advocacy, though focused on the operational rather than cross-modal remit.
• Association of European Railway Industries (UNIFE): European rail industry association based in Brussels. Comparable membership-driven association model with EU policy engagement in transport equipment and rail, one of the modal-specific counterparts that complements DVF's cross-modal scope.
• Bundesverband Güterkraftverkehr Logistik und Entsorgung (BGL): German association for road freight, logistics, and disposal operators. Closely comparable as a German transport-sector association with policy advocacy and member services, focused on road haulage as opposed to cross-modal coverage.

Broad incumbents

• BusinessEurope: Confederation of European business federations engaging EU institutions on cross-cutting policy. Comparable as an EU-level advocacy platform, but at broader industrial rather than transport-specific remit.
• Bundesverband der Deutschen Industrie (BDI): Germany's largest industry federation, with members across industrial sectors including transport. Comparable in association structure and policy advocacy model, but operates at a broader industrial-policy level rather than transport-specialized.

Regional players

• European Automobile Manufacturers' Association (ACEA): Brussels-based association representing European vehicle manufacturers. Comparably structured as a Brussels-active industry association engaging EU institutions on mobility, climate, and trade, though focused on automotive OEMs rather than cross-modal.
• UITP (International Association of Public Transport): International association for public transport authorities and operators, headquartered in Brussels. Comparable membership-based policy advocacy model in the mobility space, but globally rather than Germany-centric.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/dvfmobil

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Deutsches Verkehrsforum