KomBus

What KomBus does

KomBus GmbH is a privately-held regional public transport operator headquartered in Bad Lobenstein, Thuringia, Germany, providing scheduled and on-demand bus services across the Saalfeld-Rudolstadt and Saale-Orla districts. The company runs a fleet of more than 200 buses and a workforce of approximately 430 employees, moving roughly 8.5 million passengers per year (~23,000 daily) through regional lines (Regionalverkehr), urban city-triangle services (Städtedreieck Mobil, Stadtmobil Saale-Orla-Kreis), school transportation, and a unique river ferry (Mühlenfähre). KomBus is owned by the two districts it serves, operates within the VMT (Verkehrsverbund Mittelthüringen) tariff association, and is the largest regional public transport company in Thuringia.

The company operates a diversified service portfolio across core transit and tourism verticals: KomBus Flex provides demand-responsive Rufbus service with virtual stops for rural coverage; Wanderbus and FahrradBus target hikers and cyclists; KomBus Tours and Erlebnistouren offer charter and organized day-trip experiences; and a vintage/oldtimer bus fleet supports nostalgic tourism. Digital channels include the KomBus App, a customer portal (Kundenportal), and FAIRTIQ integration. Subsidiary KVW GmbH has been training commercial drivers and automotive mechatronics technicians for 15 years, functioning as an internal talent pipeline. The management team is led by Geschäftsführer (CEO) Dirk Bergner, with Marko Wolfram as Aufsichtsratsvorsitzender (Supervisory Board Chair) for 2026.

KomBus generates revenue through a mix of farebox ticket sales (single, day, weekly, monthly tickets), subscription products (Deutschlandticket at €63/month, Abo Plus, Abo Solo, Abo Mobil 65, Abo Schüler/Azubi), employer-subsidized Jobtickets, and tourist services (Wanderbus tickets €6-€22, day excursion tours €45-€120, Genusspakete food packages). Go-to-market is direct-to-consumer via service centers at bus and train stations, the company website, mobile apps, newsletters, and social media. Strategic partnerships include VMT (transport association, core), Bäckerei Räthe and Brauhaus Saalfeld (Genusspakete food/beverage suppliers), and tourist information offices in Saalfeld and Bad Blankenburg (reseller channel for excursion tours).

Name

KomBus

Legal name

KomBus GmbH

Website

https://kombus-online.eu

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

KomBus GmbH is the largest regional public transport operator in Thuringia, Germany, serving the Saalfeld-Rudolstadt and Saale-Orla districts with 200+ buses, 430 employees, and 8.5 million annual passengers across scheduled, on-demand, school, and tourism transit services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Regional public bus transportation

NAICS

Bus and Other Motor Vehicle Transit Systems (485113), Interurban and Rural Bus Transportation (48521), Charter Bus Industry (485510)

SIC

Local & Suburban Transit & Interurban Hwy Passenger Trans (4100)

akta.pro primary industry

Regional/County Public Bus Operators (THAIAEAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Tour Bus Leasing/Rental (Sightseeing) (TLABADAK)

Keywords

• Regional bus transportation
• Public transit services
• Demand-responsive transport
• School bus services
• Tourism excursion transport

Headquarters

HQ city

Lobenstein

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Public Transport Tickets: Revenue from single tickets, day tickets, weekly and monthly passes, subscription tickets (Deutschlandticket, Abo Plus, Abo Solo, Abo Schüler/Azubi), and tourist tickets for regional transport within VMT tariff zones.
2. Tourism and Excursion Services: Revenue from organized day trips and tours including KomBus Erlebnistouren (experience tours), rental of vintage buses, and special event transportation services like shuttle services to Rudolstadt Festival.
3. Wanderbus Services: Specialized hiking bus services with associated food packages (Genusspakete) for tourist routes, including Thüringer Meer and Schwarzatal routes.
4. School Transportation: Dedicated school bus services for students in the region.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

KomBus GmbH provides regional and urban public bus transportation across the Saalfeld-Rudolstadt and Saale-Orla districts in Thuringia, Germany. The company operates scheduled bus lines, on-demand KomBus Flex service, school transportation, hiking and cycling bus services, tourism excursion tours, vintage bus experiences, and a car ferry, supplemented by a range of single tickets and subscription tickets integrated into the VMT tariff system.

Product overview

KomBus is a regional public transportation company serving as the local transport partner for the districts of Saalfeld-Rudolstadt and Saale-Orla in Thuringia, Germany. The company operates a comprehensive bus network including scheduled regional and urban routes, demand-responsive KomBus Flex service, school transportation, and special services like the Mühlenfähre ferry. The product portfolio centers on mobility services with a full range of ticket products from single rides to subscription plans (Abo-Tickets), including the Deutschlandticket for nationwide travel. Tourism-oriented offerings include Wanderbus hiking routes, FahrradBus cycling transport, vintage Oldtimer buses, KomBus Tours charters, and organized Erlebnistouren day trips. Digital services comprise the KomBus App, FAIRTIQ ticketing integration, and online Kundenportal for customer account management. The company operates over 200 buses, transports approximately 23,000 daily passengers (8.5 million annually), and employs 430 staff across multiple locations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• KomBus Tours: Experience tours and day trips to attractions in Thuringia and beyond, featuring both modern coaches and vintage/retro buses for nostalgic tours.
• Wanderbus & Genuss
• KomBus Flex

Products and services

• Regionalverkehr Scheduled regional bus transport connecting towns and villages across the Saalfeld-Rudolstadt and Saale-Orla districts in Thuringia, serving daily commuters and travelers between rural communities.
• Stadtverkehr Städtedreieck Mobil Urban bus service operating local city lines within the Saalfeld-Rudolstadt-Bad Blankenburg city triangle, providing intra-city public transport for residents.
• Stadtmobil Saale-Orla-Kreis Urban mobility service within the Saale-Orla district providing local public transport connections for residents and intra-district travel.
• KomBus Flex Demand-responsive (Rufbus) transport service offering flexible travel on virtual stops where traditional fixed bus routes do not operate, providing mobility in rural and underserved areas of the two districts.
• Schulbus School bus transportation with dedicated routes, schedules, and reduced-fare tickets for students, including special services for school beginners (Schulanfänger).
• Wanderbus Specialized hiking bus services including Wanderbus Schwarzatal, Wanderbus Thüringer Meer, and Wanderbus und Genuss, transporting hikers to scenic trails across Thuringia with optional regional food packages (Genusspakete).
• FahrradBus Bus service with bicycle transport capability, including Line 405 (Natur-Aktiv-Linie) and bike trailers capable of carrying up to 15 bicycles, serving cycling enthusiasts traveling across the region.
• KomBus Tours Charter bus service for group travel, events, and excursions throughout Thuringia and beyond, operated with a modern fleet and vintage buses.
• KomBus Erlebnistouren Guided day trips and excursions to attractions throughout Thuringia and Germany including Leipzig, the Rhön, the Erzgebirge, Christmas markets, and Biathlon events in Oberhof.
• Oldtimer-Busse Nostalgic vintage bus tours featuring historic vehicles including the Fleischer S5 RU (1972), Ikarus 31, Ikarus 66 'Rakete', and Robur LD 3000.
• Mühlenfähre Thuringia's only car ferry service connecting across the Saale river, operated by KomBus with tickets and tariffs for vehicle crossings.
• KomBus App Mobile application available for iOS and Android providing schedule information, real-time updates, and digital ticket purchasing for the KomBus network.
• FAIRTIQ-App integration Integration with the FAIRTIQ mobile ticketing platform for convenient ticket purchase and direct smartphone-based fare validation on KomBus services.
• Kundenportal Online customer portal enabling KomBus customers to manage subscriptions, tickets, and personal account information.
• Deutschlandticket Monthly subscription ticket for €63 per month allowing travel throughout the KomBus service area and across the entire German public transport network.
• Abo-Tickets Subscription ticket portfolio including Abo Plus, Abo Solo, Abo Mobil 65, Abo Schüler/Azubi, and Abo Baustein Verbund offering recurring discounts for regular travelers.
• Einzel- und Tagestickets Single ride tickets and day tickets for occasional travelers using the KomBus regional and urban bus network.
• Wochen- und Monatskarten Weekly and monthly passes for regular commuters and frequent travelers across the KomBus network.
• Jobtickets Employer-subsidized commuter tickets offering reduced-rate public transport for working professionals as part of their employment benefits.
• Großgruppenticket Group ticket offering discounted per-person rates for large parties traveling together across the KomBus network.

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• VMT (Verkehrsverbund Mittelhüringen)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKomBus operates as a member of the VMT transport association, following VMT tariff zones (400-485 and 864) for ticket pricing and route planning across the region.
• Tourist Information SaalfeldminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTourist information offices serve as booking points for KomBus Erlebnistouren day excursion services.
• Tourist Information Bad BlankenburgminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTourist information offices serve as booking points for KomBus Erlebnistouren day excursion services.
• Bäckerei RätheminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Saalfeld bakery to provide fresh food packages (Genusspakete) directly on Wanderbus services, offering regional culinary experiences during hiking excursions.
• Brauhaus SaalfeldminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides regional beverages for Genusspakete offerings on Wanderbus services, including Saalfelder Pilsner and other drinks.
• KVW GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSubsidiary of KomBus GmbH that has been successfully training apprentices and career changers to become professional drivers for 15 years.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/KomBus.Thueringen
• Instagraminstagram.com/kombusgmbh
• Xx.com/KomBusGmbH
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kombus-gmbh

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 KomBus