Autowelt Schmidt
Autowelt Schmidt is a privately held, family-controlled multi-brand automotive dealership group operating 14 locations across North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, with authorized sales and service for BMW, MINI, Volkswagen, Audi, Škoda, and Volkswagen Nutzfahrzeuge, serving both private consumers and corporate fleet customers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1950
- HeadquartersLünen, Germany
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Autowelt Schmidt does
Autowelt Schmidt (legal entity: Autohaus Schmidt GmbH & Co. KG) is a privately held, family-controlled multi-brand automotive dealership group headquartered in Lünen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Founded in the early 1950s and operating for over 70 years, the company runs 14 physical locations across seven NRW cities — Lünen, Werne, Hamm, Soest, Schwerte, Dortmund, and Recklinghausen — with approximately 500 employees. It holds authorized sales and service franchises for six OEM brands: BMW, MINI, Volkswagen, Audi, Škoda, and Volkswagen Nutzfahrzeuge, supplemented by certified partner status as California ProfiPartner for Volkswagen camper vans and as an authorized Happy Van rental partner.
The company's core product offering is the full vehicle lifecycle: new and used vehicle sales (retail and fleet), certified pre-owned programs (BMW Premium Selection, MINI Next, Audi Gebrauchtwagen :plus, VW Das WeltAuto), authorized service and maintenance, parts and accessories, vehicle buy-back (Fahrzeugankauf), E-Mobility advisory tied to the 2026 E-Auto subsidy program, mobility solutions for people with disabilities, and camper van rental under the Happy Van program starting at €79 per night. Underlying technology consists of an integrated multi-brand dealership operations system supporting an Online Vehicle Marketplace and Online Appointment Booking for workshop services across all 14 sites. Product launches in 2025 added three Škoda electric models (Peaq, Epiq, Elroq) to the portfolio alongside existing Volkswagen ID and Audi e-tron lines.
Commercially, Autowelt Schmidt operates a dual GTM motion: a direct-to-consumer funnel combining physical showrooms with a digital vehicle marketplace (targeting private customers and small buyers) and an enterprise field-sales motion delivered through OEM-anchored business-customer programs — BMW Geschäftskunden, Volkswagen Professional Class, and Audi Business — led by a dedicated key account manager. Revenue is generated across five streams: one-time vehicle sales (the largest), recurring subscription-style leasing (e.g., Škoda Epiq from €119/month, BMW 216 Gran Coupé from €299/month), professional services (workshop and maintenance), hardware-like parts sales, and transaction-fee camper rentals. Management is led by Managing Directors Max Elsässer and Eric Schmidt (latter suggesting Schmidt-family continuity), supported by heads of commercial operations, aftersales, marketing, IT, HR, key accounts, and used-vehicle sales.
Autowelt Schmidt firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Autowelt Schmidt
- Legal name
- Autohaus Schmidt GmbH & Co. KG
- Website
- https://autowelt-schmidt.de
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1950
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- Autowelt Schmidt is a privately held, family-controlled multi-brand automotive dealership group operating 14 locations across North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, with authorized sales and service for BMW, MINI, Volkswagen, Audi, Škoda, and Volkswagen Nutzfahrzeuge, serving both private consumers and corporate fleet customers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Autowelt Schmidt industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Automotive Retail and Services
- NAICS
- Motor Vehicle and Parts Dealers (441), Automotive Parts and Accessories Retailers (44133), Used Car Dealers (441120)
- SIC
- Retail-Auto Dealers & Gasoline Stations (5500), Services-Automotive Repair, Services & Parking (7500), Services-Auto Rental & Leasing (No Drivers) (7510)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Auto & Vehicle Leasing (Personal Use) (FSAKANAA)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Garage Liability & Dealers (Auto Dealers, Repair Shops) (FSAJABAF)
Keywords
Where Autowelt Schmidt is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Lünen
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices7 records
Markets served
Autowelt Schmidt business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Vehicle Sales: Sales of new and used vehicles across multiple brands (BMW, MINI, Volkswagen, Audi, Škoda, VW Nutzfahrzeuge). Includes both retail and fleet/corporate sales.
- Vehicle Leasing: Leasing services for private and business customers with various monthly payment options. Examples include MINI Blackyard Edition from €249/month private, Škoda Peaq from €119/month, Škoda Epiq from €199/month.
- Service and Maintenance: Workshop services including maintenance, repairs, and parts sales for all represented brands.
- Parts and Accessories: Sales of original parts and accessories for all vehicle brands.
- Camper Rental: Volkswagen California camper rental service through Happy Van program, starting from €79 per night.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Private Vehicle Leasing |
| Subscription | Monthly | Business/Corporate Leasing |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Camper Rental |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels7 records
Autowelt Schmidt product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Autowelt Schmidt sells new and used vehicles from six brands (BMW, MINI, Volkswagen, Audi, Škoda, and Volkswagen Nutzfahrzeuge) through 14 dealership locations in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. The company additionally offers private and corporate vehicle leasing, authorized workshop service and maintenance, original parts and accessories, corporate fleet programs (BMW Geschäftskunden, Audi Business, VW Professional Class), vehicle buy-back, e-mobility advisory, and Volkswagen California camper rental through the Happy Van program.
Product overview
Autowelt Schmidt is a multi-brand automotive dealership operating as a unified platform with 14 locations across NRW (Lünen, Werne, Hamm, Soest, Schwerte, Dortmund, and Recklinghausen). The company offers a comprehensive automotive portfolio combining new vehicle sales across six core brands (BMW, MINI, Volkswagen, Audi, Škoda, and Volkswagen Nutzfahrzeuge) with full service and maintenance capabilities. The product ecosystem includes new and used vehicle sales, certified pre-owned programs (BMW Premium Selection, MINI Next, Audi Gebrauchtwagen :plus, VW Das WeltAuto), commercial vehicle services (VW Nutzfahrzeuge with California ProfiPartner status), and camper rental services (Happy Van). Supporting services include e-mobility advisory, corporate fleet solutions, online appointment booking, disability mobility solutions, and vehicle purchase programs. With approximately 500 employees, the company delivers integrated sales and after-sales services as a one-stop automotive mobility partner.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- California ProfiPartner: Volkswagen California camper van professional partner program offering sales and service of California vehicles.
- HappyVan
Products and services
- BMW Sales & Service
Companies that use Autowelt Schmidt
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Autowelt Schmidt technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Autowelt Schmidt partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- California ProfiPartner (Volkswagen Nutzfahrzeuge)coreCertified professional partner for Volkswagen California camper vans, offering sales and service of California vehicles and related services like Happy Van camper rental program
- HappyVan (Volkswagen Nutzfahrzeuge)coreAuthorized HappyVan partner for Volkswagen California camper rental services, offering vehicles for rent from €79/night and related camping equipment including roof tents
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Autowelt Schmidt competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Strengths4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Autowelt Schmidt social profiles
Digital presenceAutowelt Schmidt financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Autowelt Schmidt leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles18 records
Autowelt Schmidt funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Autowelt Schmidt 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 Autowelt Schmidt
What does Autowelt Schmidt do?
Autowelt Schmidt sells new and used vehicles from six brands (BMW, MINI, Volkswagen, Audi, Škoda, and Volkswagen Nutzfahrzeuge) through 14 dealership locations in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. The company additionally offers private and corporate vehicle leasing, authorized workshop service and maintenance, original parts and accessories, corporate fleet programs (BMW Geschäftskunden, Audi Business, VW Professional Class), vehicle buy-back, e-mobility advisory, and Volkswagen California camper rental through the Happy Van program.
Is Autowelt Schmidt a public or private company?
Autowelt Schmidt is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Autowelt Schmidt founded?
Autowelt Schmidt was founded in 1950. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is Autowelt Schmidt based?
Autowelt Schmidt is headquartered in Lünen, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does Autowelt Schmidt make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Vehicle Sales are the primary driver. The others are vehicle Leasing, service and Maintenance, parts and Accessories and camper Rental.
Does Autowelt Schmidt have an API?
No public API is recorded for Autowelt Schmidt.
What industry is Autowelt Schmidt in?
Autowelt Schmidt's product category is Automotive Retail and Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSAKANAA, Auto & Vehicle Leasing (Personal Use), with a secondary code of FSAJABAF, Garage Liability & Dealers (Auto Dealers, Repair Shops). Its NAICS code is 441 and its SIC code is 5500.