VCD

What VCD does

VCD - Verkehrsclub Deutschland e.V. is a German non-profit environmental transport association (gemeinnützig, eingetragener Verein) founded in 1986 and headquartered in Berlin at Wallstraße 58. The organization advocates for environmentally compatible, safe, and healthy mobility in Germany, operating a federated structure of 12 state-level associations (Landesverbände), approximately 140 district and local groups (Kreisverbände und Ortsgruppen), and roughly 150 local chapters. VCD's primary functional remit is policy advocacy on transport and climate issues (Bundesmobilitätsgesetz, Verkehrswende, Tempolimit, Vision Zero) delivered through public campaigns, demonstrations, position papers, and consultation with federal, state, and municipal governments.

VCD's product and service portfolio centers on knowledge artifacts and member engagement rather than technology platforms. Core offerings include the quarterly VCD-Magazin fairkehr, a publications database, the VCD-Akademie (seminars and workshops), and standardized assessment methodologies such as the Fußverkehrscheck zur Haltestelle, the ÖPNV-Zugänglichkeitscheckliste, and the Mobilitätsstationen Standards. Recurring evaluation programs include the VCD Auto-Umweltliste (vehicle environmental ratings, running since 2002), the VCD Bahntest (rail service evaluations), the VCD Städtecheck (city traffic-safety assessments), and practical online tools such as the Kostencheck Mobilität and VCD BahnCard-Rechner. Children's and family programs (VCD Laufbus, VCD Mobilitätsfibel) and the Shaping Mobility Awards round out the portfolio. Technology components are limited to web-based calculators, downloadable Excel-based evaluation tools, and newsletter/content distribution infrastructure.

VCD operates a diversified non-profit revenue model. Primary income streams are individual membership fees (subscription/recurring), individual and corporate donations, a corporate partner program (Fördermitgliedschaft/VCD-Partner), publications and merchandise revenue (VCD-Shop, fairkehr magazine), and fees from VCD-Akademie seminars and educational services. A wholly-owned subsidiary, fairkehr und Service GmbH, handles service and publishing activities. Distribution is primarily domestic and direct, with a small set of project-tied government advisory relationships (e.g., Umweltbundesamt, municipalities, transit authorities such as VBB, HVV, Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Sieg, and Stadt Offenburg). The organization's customer base is the environmentally conscious German public, with secondary engagement of families, mobility-disadvantaged groups, low-income individuals, and government policymakers.

Name

VCD

Legal name

VCD Verkehrsclub Deutschland e.V.

Website

https://vcd.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

VCD is a German non-profit environmental transport association founded in 1986 and headquartered in Berlin, serving environmentally conscious citizens and policymakers through grassroots advocacy, publications, and standardized mobility assessment tools.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Annual membership fees from individual members. VCD operates as a non-profit charitable organization (gemeinnützig) that relies on member support.
2. Donations and Sponsorship: Individual donations, corporate sponsorship programs (Fördermitgliedschaft/VCD-Partner), and bequests. They operate a partner program for companies supporting their mission.
3. Publications and Merchandise: Revenue from VCD magazine fairkehr subscriptions, publications, guidebooks, and the VCD-Shop selling promotional materials.
4. Educational Services: VCD-Akademie seminars, workshop offerings, moderator training programs, and educational materials for mobility education.
5. fairkehr und Service GmbH: Subsidiary company providing services related to the organization's mission.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

VCD (Verkehrsclub Deutschland e.V.) is Germany's oldest ecological transport association, founded in 1986. It offers membership services, educational programs, assessment tools, publications, and policy advocacy services focused on sustainable mobility (Verkehrswende). The organization also operates a wholly-owned subsidiary, fairkehr und Service GmbH, providing publishing and service activities.

Product overview

VCD (Verkehrsclub Deutschland e.V.) is a non-profit environmental transportation association offering advocacy services and practical tools rather than a technology product platform. The organization's offerings include publications such as the VCD-Magazin fairkehr (quarterly magazine) and a publications database with downloadable materials. VCD provides educational programs through the VCD-Akademie with workshops and seminars, children's mobility programs like VCD Laufbus and VCD Mobilitätsfibel, and assessment tools including the Fußverkehrscheck zur Haltestelle for evaluating pedestrian access to transit stops and the VCD Städtecheck for city traffic safety assessments. The organization runs the Shaping Mobility Awards competition and hosts the annual VCD-Mobilitätskongress. Practical tools include the Kostencheck Mobilität for comparing transportation costs, the VCD BahnCard-Rechner for evaluating rail discount cards, the VCD Auto-Umweltliste for vehicle environmental ratings, and action materials like the Gelbe Karte for reporting illegal parking. Membership communications include the VCD-Newsletter and publication access.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• VCD-Magazin fairkehr: The quarterly membership magazine of VCD providing insights into sustainable mobility topics.
• jungVCD
• Shaping Mobility Awards

Products and services

• VCD-Magazin fairkehr Quarterly membership magazine providing in-depth coverage of current topics around sustainable mobility, available to members and newsletter subscribers.
• VCD-Newsletter Regular email newsletter informing subscribers about VCD activities, campaigns, and mobility news.
• Publikationsdatenbank Online database containing brochures, informational materials, background documents, and position papers available for free download.
• VCD-Akademie Educational seminars and workshop offerings for activists and interested members covering sustainable mobility topics.
• Shaping Mobility Awards Competition for young talents seeking graduate and undergraduate theses on mobility topics, with awards up to 750 EUR.
• VCD-Mobilitätskongress Annual congress bringing together mobility experts, activists, and policymakers to discuss sustainable transportation topics.
• Kostencheck Mobilität Online tool comparing monthly costs of different mobility options including Bahncard, e-cars, cargo bikes, and pedelecs to help users make financially beneficial choices.
• Fußverkehrscheck zur Haltestelle Methodology with checklists and evaluation templates for citizens to assess pedestrian accessibility and quality of public transport stops, including Excel evaluation tools.
• VCD Städtecheck Program evaluating cities' traffic safety and pedestrian/bicycle friendliness conducted in various years (2010, 2011, 2012, 2014).
• VCD Toolbox Toolkit providing tips and materials for street redesign and urban space reallocation advocacy.
• VCD Laufbus Program enabling children to walk to school together in groups with adult supervision, promoting independent mobility.
• VCD Mobilitätsfibel Publication providing educational content on sustainable mobility for children and families.
• VCD BahnCard-Rechner Online calculator to help users determine which Deutsche Bahn discount card offers the best value.
• VCD Auto-Umweltliste Environmental rating list for automobiles published in various years, evaluating vehicles based on environmental criteria.
• VCD Verkehrsberatung Question and answer service providing mobility advice to members and the public.

Quantifiable outcome

• Foot traffic checks conducted in multiple cities across Germany evaluating pedestrian accessibility to transit stops.
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Bündnis „Saubere Luft 2030“ (Clean Air 2030 Coalition)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 June 2026Broad coalition including Deutsche Umwelthilfe, health sector organizations, scientific institutions, and environmental and consumer associations working together for clean air by 2030 through stricter air quality limits.
• Umweltbundesamt (German Environment Agency)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Project funding and collaboration on the 'Verkehrswende: klimaverträglich und sozial gerecht' (Climate-Compatible and Socially Equitable Mobility Transition) project.
• Deutsches Kinderhilfswerk (German Children's Aid)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for the annual 'Zu Fuß zur Schule und zum Kindergarten' (Walking to School and Kindergarten) campaign. Joint initiative promoting active mobility for young children, with action days held September 21 - October 2 annually.
• Bündnis sozialverträgliche Mobilitätswende (Coalition for Socially Equitable Mobility Transition)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBroad coalition of environmental associations, trade unions, welfare and social associations, and the Protestant Church in Germany demanding a socially equitable and ecological mobility transition.
• AB Stadtverkehr (Traffic Planning Office)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTraffic planning consultancy that developed a foot traffic concept for Cologne's Severinsviertel district, conducting resident surveys and documenting deficiencies.
• Hamburger Verkehrsverbund (HVV)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEstablished Haltestellenumfeld-Koordination (HUK) to improve transit stop environments through enhanced coordination among relevant stakeholders.
• fairkehr und Service GmbHcoreOthersWholly-owned subsidiary company of VCD providing services related to the organization's mission and publications.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Deutsche Umwelthilfe (DUH): German environmental and consumer advocacy non-profit working explicitly on transport topics including air quality, diesel bans, and Verkehrswende. Shares VCD's litigation- and advocacy-heavy model and overlaps directly in Dieselgate-era policy battles.
• ADFC (Allgemeiner Deutscher Fahrrad-Club): Germany's largest cycling advocacy organization, structured as a member-based non-profit federation of regional chapters with national policy influence. Closest structural and mission analog to VCD, focused exclusively on cycling infrastructure, bicycle policy, and active mobility.
• VCÖ (Verkehrsclub Österreich): Austrian ecological transport association explicitly modeled after VCD, using similar name, mission, and member-based advocacy structure. Direct sibling organization with near-identical focus on sustainable mobility in the DACH region.

Broad incumbents

• NABU (Naturschutzbund Deutschland): One of Germany's oldest and largest environmental NGOs with hundreds of thousands of members and a federal-state chapter structure similar to VCD. Competes for environmental donors and overlapping policy influence on climate and nature-based transport solutions.
• BUND (Bund für Umwelt und Naturschutz Deutschland): Largest German environmental NGO with overlapping transport-climate policy advocacy and a comparable federal-state-local chapter structure. Operates with broader environmental scope but competes for the same environmentally engaged donor and member pool as VCD.
• Greenpeace Germany: Major German environmental campaign organization with an order of magnitude larger budget and global brand. Operates in adjacent mobility and climate policy space and competes for the same class of environmentally engaged individual supporters.

Regional players

• Sustrans: UK-based sustainable transport charity with a national network focused on active travel, cycling, and walking infrastructure. Closest UK functional peer to VCD's assessment, advocacy, and infrastructure-quality measurement work.
• Fietsersbond: Netherlands cycling association with member-funded advocacy model focused on cycling infrastructure and policy, comparable in structure to VCD. Operates primarily in the Dutch market but tracks closely with the German-speaking cycling advocacy ecosystem VCD engages.

Others

• ITDP (Institute for Transportation and Development Policy): International non-profit organization promoting sustainable and equitable urban transport. Indirect peer through transport-climate thematic overlap, but operates globally rather than as a national membership association.

Emerging players

• Verkehrswende Alliance / Changing Cities: Germany-based civic alliance advocating for sustainable urban transport, with comparable activist and demonstration-led playbook. Smaller and more advocacy-focused than VCD but overlaps directly in Verkehrswende campaigns and policy positions.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/vcdbundesverband
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/verkehrsclub-deutschland-e.v.-vcd-
• Instagraminstagram.com/vcd_ev
• Xx.com/VCDeV

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 VCD