DB Regio Bus Nord
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- HeadquartersHamburg, Germany
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
DB Regio Bus Nord firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- DB Regio Bus Nord
- Legal name
- Autokraft GmbH, DB Regio Bus Nord GmbH, Regionalbus Braunschweig GmbH, Weser-Ems Busverkehr GmbH
- Website
- https://www.dbregiobus-nord.de
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
DB Regio Bus Nord industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Regional Public Bus Transportation
- NAICS
- Interurban and Rural Bus Transportation (48521), Bus and Other Motor Vehicle Transit Systems (485113), School and Employee Bus Transportation (48541), Charter Bus Industry (485510)
- SIC
- Local & Suburban Transit & Interurban Hwy Passenger Trans (4100)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Scheduled Intercity Coach Operators (TLAFAFAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Intercity Bus Franchises/Concessionaires (Public Service Contracts) (THAIADAG), Regional Intercity Bus Operators (Scheduled) (THAIADAB)
Keywords
Where DB Regio Bus Nord is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Hamburg
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices12 records
Markets served
DB Regio Bus Nord business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Public Transport Contracts: Revenue from public service contracts with regional transport authorities (ÖPNV-Aufgabenträger) who procure bus services through competitive tendering. The company operates under long-term traffic contracts that define routes, frequencies, and service levels.
- Passenger Fares: Revenue from ticket sales to passengers using bus services. Fares are collected through various channels including on-board sales, apps, customer centers, and online platforms. Multiple tariff systems apply based on transport association territories.
- Airport Shuttle Services (KIELIUS): The KIELIUS airport bus service between Kiel and Hamburg Airport operates as a commercial service with ticket revenue from passengers. Online tickets are priced from 16 Euro, monthly subscriptions from 85-160 Euro depending on route.
- Charter and Rental Services: Mietbus (charter bus) services offered by Autokraft, RBB, and Weser-Ems-Bus for group travel, events, and private hire.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Deutschland-Ticket for nationwide public transport |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Electrombusse funding received |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | KIELIUS Airport Bus - Online Ticket |
| Subscription | Monthly | KIELIUS Abo-Monatskarte |
| Subscription | Monthly | Germany School Ticket (Schulticket) |
| Subscription | Monthly | Germany Senior Ticket Hamburg |
| Subscription | Annual | Uelzen-Tarif Annual Subscription |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | pluspunkt-Tarif in Stadt Uelzen |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Freizeitbus Uelzen |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels8 records
Marketing channels10 records
DB Regio Bus Nord product offering
Product offeringCore offering
DB Regio Bus Nord operates scheduled regional and local public bus services across Schleswig-Holstein, Niedersachsen, Bremen, and parts of Hamburg through five subsidiaries (Autokraft, Dithmarschenbus, Regionalbus Braunschweig, Weser-Ems-Bus, Haller Busbetrieb). The portfolio includes the KIELIUS airport shuttle between Kiel and Hamburg Airport, hydrogen and electric bus fleets, demand-responsive Rufbus services, and leisure bus routes. Tickets are distributed through mobile apps, online shops, customer centers, and on-board sales under multiple regional tariff systems.
Product overview
DB Regio Bus Nord is a regional bus transport company under Deutsche Bahn comprising five subsidiary bus companies: Autokraft GmbH (Schleswig-Holstein), DB Regio Bus Nord GmbH/Dithmarschenbus (Dithmarschen district), Regionalbus Braunschweig GmbH/RBB (Lower Saxony including Uelzen, Lüneburg, Heidekreis), Weser-Ems Busverkehr GmbH/WEB (Weser-Ems region including Bremen, Oldenburg, Osnabrück), and Haller Busbetrieb GmbH/HBB (Heidekreis). The portfolio includes core bus services across multiple tariff systems, specialized offerings like KIELIUS airport shuttle between Kiel and Hamburg Airport, various subscription tickets including Deutschland-Ticket (63 euros/month) and regional variants, on-demand Rufbus services (RuDi in Dithmarschen, SMILE24 in Eckernförde), and recreational buses (Freizeitbus Uelzen, FreizeitBus Osnabrück, Urlauberbus Ostfriesland). Digital services are accessible through Wohin·Du·Willst app and various transport association apps (hvv, NAH.SH, VBN, VOS, VEJ). The company is transitioning to sustainable mobility with hydrogen buses in Friesland, electric buses in Uelzen, and electric bus funding for Autokraft and Weser-Ems-Bus.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Scheduled Regional Bus Services Fixed-route scheduled bus services operated across Schleswig-Holstein, Niedersachsen, Bremen, and parts of Hamburg through five subsidiary bus companies (Autokraft, Dithmarschenbus, Regionalbus Braunschweig, Weser-Ems-Bus, Haller Busbetrieb).
- KIELIUS Airport Shuttle Hourly airport shuttle bus service connecting Kiel via Neumünster to Hamburg Airport, with online tickets from 16 euros and monthly subscriptions from 85-160 euros. Operating since 1979.
- Deutschland-Ticket Germany-wide monthly subscription ticket for public transport valid in all regional trains, S-Bahn, U-Bahn, trams, and buses. Priced at 63 euros per month, cancellable monthly.
- Freizeitbus Uelzen Recreational bus service operating May 1 to October 31 on weekends and holidays, serving tourist destinations in Uelzen district with free bicycle transport included.
- Urlauberbus Ostfriesland Vacation bus service in East Frisia region offering routes to Wattenmeer region for leisure travel and tourism.
- Rufbus On-Demand Services Demand-responsive transport services including RuDi Nord (Heide), RuDi Süd (Marne), RuDi Mitte (Meldorf), and SMILE24 (Eckernförde). Bookable via Wohin·Du·Willst App or phone.
- X85 Bus Line Lübeck-Fehmarn Rail replacement bus service between Lübeck and Puttgarden (Fehmarn) operating with modern double-decker buses from MAN manufacturer. Hourly departures with 2-hour journey time.
- Wasserstoffbusse (Hydrogen Buses) Six hydrogen fuel cell buses deployed in Landkreis Friesland, produced by Caetano with Toyota fuel cells. Features 590km range, wheelchair/bicycle access, video surveillance, air conditioning, Wi-Fi, and USB charging.
- E-Busse Stadtverkehr Uelzen Electric buses deployed in Stadt Uelzen city transport, operated by RBB on behalf of mycity (Stadtwerke Uelzen).
- PlusBus OstFriesland PlusBus service in Ihlow municipality (Landkreis Aurich) with new lines and buses operated by Weser-Ems-Bus, providing enhanced bus connections in East Frisia region.
- Wohin·Du·Willst App Mobile application for nationwide public transport, enabling Deutschland-Ticket purchase and management, real-time travel information, route planning, eTicketing, Rufbus booking, and offline access to saved trips.
- Mietbus Charter Services Charter bus (Mietbus) services offered by Autokraft, RBB, and Weser-Ems-Bus for group travel, events, and private hire.
- Uelzen-Tarif Subscription Regional tariff system for Landkreis Uelzen based on tariff zones, with annual subscription option for adults, trainees, students, and schoolchildren.
Quantifiable outcome
- 130,000 tonnes CO2 saved compared to diesel buses from deployed electric buses nationwide
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use DB Regio Bus Nord
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
DB Regio Bus Nord technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration19 records
Feature4 records
DB Regio Bus Nord partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Deutsche Bahn AG (Parent Company)coreDB Regio Bus Nord is a subsidiary of Deutsche Bahn AG. The company operates as part of DB Regio AG, the market leader in German local public transport. DB Regio Bus Nord subsidiaries (Autokraft, RBB, Weser-Ems-Bus, Dithmarschenbus, Haller) are integrated into the DB Group structure with shared resources, technology platforms, and brand identity.
- Bundesministerium für Verkehr (BMV)coreFederal Ministry of Transport providing funding for electric and hydrogen bus procurement. In current funding round, 151 companies received 417 million Euro for 1,887 electric buses. DB Regio Bus Nord subsidiaries received support for fleet electrification.
- Landkreis FrieslandcoreCounty partnership for hydrogen bus deployment. Landkreis Friesland invested 450,000 Euro in addition to 16.5 million Euro BMV funding for six hydrogen buses and infrastructure.
- MOIN GmbHcorePartnership for bus services in Landkreis Lüneburg. Since January 2026, joint venture of RBB and irro operates bus services under contract with MOIN GmbH.
- Transport Associations (Verkehrsverbünde)corePartnerships with multiple transport associations for tariff coordination and integrated ticketing: VBN (Bremen-Niedersachsen), VEJ (Ems-Jade), VNN (Nordost Niedersachsen), VOS (Osnabrück), VRB (Region Braunschweig), VSN (Südniedersachsen), hvv (Hamburg), NAH.SH (Schleswig-Holstein). These partnerships enable seamless travel across regions with unified tariffs.
- Taxi TammsminorTaxi company providing RuDi Nord demand-responsive transport services in Heide area as subcontractor for DB Regio Bus Nord GmbH.
- Taxi PetersminorTaxi company providing RuDi Süd demand-responsive transport services in Marne area as subcontractor.
- Taxi 4000minorTaxi company providing RuDi Mitte demand-responsive transport services in Meldorf area as subcontractor.
- Willy Hummert Omnibusverkehr GmbHcoreBus company partnered with Weser-Ems-Bus to operate Ringlinien X491 and X492 in Hasbergen area of VOS Süd region, including new L89/Ohrbeck stop.
- DB Vertrieb GmbHcoreSales partner for ticket distribution and subscription management, including handling Deutschland-Ticket sales and KIELIUS monthly subscriptions.
- Planungsgesellschaft Nahverkehr Osnabrück (PlaNOS)corePlanning organization for public transport in Osnabrück region involved in new bus concept 'RegioTakt' implementation.
- irro ReisencoreBus company partnered with RBB in joint venture for Landkreis Lüneburg bus services since January 2026.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
DB Regio Bus Nord competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- DB Regio Bus Mitte: Sibling division of Deutsche Bahn AG operating scheduled regional and city bus services across central Germany (Hessen, Rheinland-Pfalz, parts of Nordrhein-Westfalen). Directly comparable in operating model: contracted bus services under DB Regio, multiple subsidiaries, Verkehrsverbund integrations, and parallel fleet electrification program.
- Verkehrsbetriebe Hamburg-Holstein (VHH): Public municipal bus operator serving Hamburg and the surrounding Schleswig-Holstein districts. Directly competes in the same Hamburg hvv tariff zones as DB Regio Bus Nord's Weser-Ems-Bus and Autokraft services, with overlapping route geographies.
- Kieler Verkehrsgesellschaft (KVG): Municipal transit operator in Kiel providing city bus and ferry services in the same Schleswig-Holstein NAH.SH tariff as Autokraft. Comparable in operating scheduled bus routes, contract-based service, and integrated app-based ticketing.
- DB Regio Bus Bayern: DB AG's southern German bus division operating contracted regional routes across Bayern. Operates an identical business model under the same DB Regio umbrella, with parallel hydrogen and electric bus deployment programs and Verkehrsverbund integrations.
- Regionalverkehr Köln (RVK): Regional bus operator in the Rheinland providing scheduled services across multiple Landkreise under Verkehrsverbund tariffs. Comparable in contract-based operations, multi-subsidiary structure, and rural-urban route mix in a German Verkehrsverbund.
- Omnibusverkehr Franken (OVF): Regional bus operator in Franken/Nordbayern providing scheduled and on-demand services under VGN tariff. Comparable as a contracted German bus operator with Verkehrsverbund integration, multi-district coverage, and Rufbus-style demand-responsive offerings.
Emerging players
- FlixBus: Germany-headquartered intercity coach operator and DB's main competitor in long-distance road passenger transport. Comparable in passenger bus operations and digital ticketing, but operates commercial scheduled intercity network rather than contracted regional routes, so only partial overlap.
Broad incumbents
- Üstra Hannoversche Verkehrsbetriebe: Public transit operator in Hannover offering urban tram, light rail, and bus services under the GVH tariff — same Verkehrsverbund-style framework that DB Regio Bus Nord serves. Comparable in contracted regional bus operations in Niedersachsen, though with a broader urban rail portfolio.
- Hamburger Hochbahn: Hamburg's principal public transit operator running U-Bahn, buses, and ferries under the hvv tariff — the same network in which DB Regio Bus Nord's Weser-Ems-Bus and Autokraft routes operate. Adjacent competitor with broader metro services but overlapping bus routes in Hamburg.
Regional players
- moBiel: Municipal transit company in Bielefeld operating city buses under the WestfalenTarif. Comparable as a smaller-scale contracted bus operator, though geographically separate and operating in a different Verkehrsverbund.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
DB Regio Bus Nord social profiles
Digital presenceDB Regio Bus Nord compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
DB Regio Bus Nord financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
DB Regio Bus Nord leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
DB Regio Bus Nord funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
DB Regio Bus Nord M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about DB Regio Bus Nord
What does DB Regio Bus Nord do?
DB Regio Bus Nord operates scheduled regional and local public bus services across Schleswig-Holstein, Niedersachsen, Bremen, and parts of Hamburg through five subsidiaries (Autokraft, Dithmarschenbus, Regionalbus Braunschweig, Weser-Ems-Bus, Haller Busbetrieb). The portfolio includes the KIELIUS airport shuttle between Kiel and Hamburg Airport, hydrogen and electric bus fleets, demand-responsive Rufbus services, and leisure bus routes. Tickets are distributed through mobile apps, online shops, customer centers, and on-board sales under multiple regional tariff systems.
Is DB Regio Bus Nord a public or private company?
DB Regio Bus Nord is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was DB Regio Bus Nord founded?
DB Regio Bus Nord was founded in -1. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is DB Regio Bus Nord based?
DB Regio Bus Nord is headquartered in Hamburg, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does DB Regio Bus Nord make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Public Transport Contracts are the primary driver. The others are passenger Fares, airport Shuttle Services (KIELIUS) and charter and Rental Services.
Who are DB Regio Bus Nord's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are DB Regio Bus Mitte, Verkehrsbetriebe Hamburg-Holstein (VHH), Kieler Verkehrsgesellschaft (KVG), DB Regio Bus Bayern, Regionalverkehr Köln (RVK) and Omnibusverkehr Franken (OVF). FlixBus is listed as an emerging player. Broad incumbents are Üstra Hannoversche Verkehrsbetriebe and Hamburger Hochbahn. moBiel is listed as a regional player.
Does DB Regio Bus Nord have an API?
No public API is recorded for DB Regio Bus Nord.
What industry is DB Regio Bus Nord in?
DB Regio Bus Nord's product category is Regional Public Bus Transportation. Its primary akta.pro industry code is TLAFAFAA, Scheduled Intercity Coach Operators, with a secondary code of THAIADAG, Intercity Bus Franchises/Concessionaires (Public Service Contracts). Its NAICS code is 48521 and its SIC code is 4100.