Voss loh Rolling Stock

What Voss loh Rolling Stock does

Vossloh Rolling Stock GmbH is a Kiel, Germany-based locomotive manufacturer with roots in 1888 and a workforce of 501-1,000 employees. Since June 2020 the company has operated as an indirect subsidiary of CRRC Zhuzhou Locomotive Co., Ltd. (CRRC ZELC), itself a unit of CRRC Corporation Limited, the world's largest rail vehicle manufacturer. The company designs, engineers, manufactures, and services locomotives for European rail freight, shunting, and infrastructure customers, branding itself the European market leader for shunting locomotives and claiming 150+ years of construction heritage.

Its product offering centers on two platforms. The DE 18 is a 1,800 kW diesel-electric mid-cab mixed-traffic locomotive — described as the most powerful mid-cab unit on the European market — with a SmartHybrid variant that pairs the diesel engine with a lithium-ion battery pack (up to 150 kWh) capable of over one hour of emission-free shunting. The Modula platform is a modular hybrid architecture covering four configurations: EBB (electric catenary + battery), EDD (catenary + dual diesel), BDD (battery + dual diesel), and a planned BFC fuel-cell variant. Both platforms integrate EU Stage V compliant diesel engines with HVO biofuel compatibility, ETCS L2 Baseline 3 Release 2, and national train-protection systems (ATC-2 for Scandinavia, SCMT/SSC for Italy), and they expose sensor- and GPS-based predictive maintenance. Modular upgradeability is positioned as a hedge against future energy carrier shifts (battery, hydrogen).

Vossloh monetizes through direct locomotive sales (firm orders and framework agreements with state railways, rail lessors, and industrial operators), ECM-certified aftermarket service through its IMATEQ subsidiary network across Germany, France, Italy, and Sweden, spare parts via a B2B platform with SAP interface (24-36 hour delivery in Germany), and leasing/financing structures arranged with financial partners. Named customers include DB Cargo (250 DM 20 framework), RAILPOOL (45 Modula firm + 152 option), Nexrail (120 SmartHybrid framework), Northrail (10+10 DE 18 for Sweden/Norway), SPITZKE (10), BBL LOGISTIK (15), Mercitalia Shunting & Terminal (8), and Hamburger Rail Service (2). Distribution runs through direct enterprise field sales complemented by leasing partners acting as channel resellers.

Name

Voss loh Rolling Stock

Legal name

Vossloh Rolling Stock GmbH

Website

https://vl-rs.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1888

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Vossloh Rolling Stock is a German locomotive manufacturer (Kiel/Moers) building the DE 18 diesel-electric and the modular Modula hybrid platform for European rail freight operators, lessors, and industrial railway customers, with full lifecycle service through its IMATEQ network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Locomotive Manufacturing

NAICS

Railroad Rolling Stock Manufacturing (336510), Engine, Turbine, and Power Transmission Equipment Manufacturing (3336), Support Activities for Rail Transportation (48821)

SIC

Railroad Equipment (3743), Engines & Turbines (3510)

akta.pro primary industry

Locomotive Maintenance & Overhaul (TLAKAIAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Rolling Stock Modernization, Retrofit & Life-Extension Programs (TLAKAIAL), Traction Motor, Generator & Electrical Rotating Equipment Repair (TLAKAIAE), Bogie/Truck, Wheelset & Bearing Shop Services (Reprofiling, Overhaul) (TLAKAIAD)

Keywords

• Diesel-electric locomotives
• Hybrid locomotive platforms
• Rail freight traction
• Locomotive maintenance services
• Rail vehicle manufacturing

Headquarters

HQ city

Kiel

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Locomotive Manufacturing and Sales: Sale of locomotives (DE 18, Modula, DM 20) to railway operators, leasing companies, and industrial customers across Europe. Revenue from initial vehicle delivery including custom configurations and multi-country homologation. Major orders include DB Cargo (250 units), Nexrail (120 units), RAILPOOL (45 units), SPITZKE (10 units), and others.
2. Maintenance and Repair Services: Comprehensive service portfolio through IMATEQ network covering maintenance, repairs, and ECM-certified services. Includes spare parts management, full-service contracts, supervised service, assistance contracts, and framework maintenance agreements. Revenue from service level agreements, fleet management, and ECM responsibility.
3. Fleet Management: Complete fleet management services including ECM (Entity in Charge of Maintenance) responsibility. Covers all maintenance stages from spare parts to complete fleet oversight, documentation in local languages, and guaranteed response times for contracted customers.
4. Financing and Leasing: Variable financing models and leasing options developed with financial partners. Customers can finance, lease, or rent locomotives. Supports operators in avoiding large upfront capital expenditures while maintaining access to modern fleet.
5. Spare Parts: Spare parts supply through B2B platform and central warehouse in Moers, Germany. Online catalog depicts each locomotive configuration including factory alterations. Parts ordered via optional SAP interface with 24-36 hour delivery within Germany.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Vossloh Rolling Stock designs, manufactures, and sells diesel-electric and modular hybrid locomotives (DE 18 platform and Modula platform) for European rail freight, shunting, and construction logistics operators. The company delivers a full locomotive lifecycle offering including custom configuration with multi-country homologation support, ECM-certified maintenance through the IMATEQ service network, spare parts via a B2B platform, and flexible financing and leasing arrangements.

Product overview

Vossloh Rolling Stock is a locomotive manufacturer offering two main product lines: the DE 18 diesel-electric locomotive series (including SmartHybrid variant) and the Modula modular hybrid platform with multiple drive configurations (EBB, EDD, BDD, and BFC in development). The DE 18 delivers 1,800 kW as Europe's most powerful mid-cab locomotive, while the Modula platform provides flexible configurations combining electric drive, batteries, diesel engines, or fuel cells. Both platforms support predictive maintenance through sensors and cloud data access. Services include ECM-certified maintenance through the IMATEQ service network, a B2B parts ordering platform with SAP integration, and flexible financing options. The company operates under parent company CRRC ZELC following 2020 acquisition.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• DE 18: Diesel-electric mixed-traffic locomotive, the most powerful mid-cab locomotive on the European market with 1,800 kW output. Also available as SmartHybrid variant with battery capability.
• Modula

Products and services

• DE 18 Diesel-Electric Locomotive

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 90% CO2 emission reduction using HVO fuel compared to conventional diesel locomotives
• +11 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

AI capability2 records

Feature11 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Hamburger Rail Service (HRS)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 29 September 2025Hamburger Rail Service ordered 2 DE 18 locomotives from Vossloh Rolling Stock in September 2025. Locomotives will be deployed from 2026 for heavy shunting, trackside services, and construction logistics. HRS operates 32 locomotives, ~450 wagons, and ~350 employees across the group.
• Certifer BelgorailcoreTechnology or Integration · 6 December 2024Certifer Belgorail conducted assessment for ERA multi-country homologation (France, Belgium, Luxembourg) of DE 18 and DE 18 SmartHybrid. Process carried out in close cooperation with authorities in all three countries.
• Northrail / RIVE Private InvestmentcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 18 November 2024Northrail (managed by RIVE Private Investment's RIVE Tangible Assets Income Fund) purchased 10 DE 18 locomotives with option for 10 more for Sweden and Norway market. Northrail arranged and structured investment together with RIVE. First locomotive delivered April 2025 for dynamic test runs.
• SPITZKE SEminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 26 March 2024SPITZKE SE signed contract for 10 DE 18 Stage V locomotives in March 2024 for delivery from summer 2025. Used by SLG SPITZKE LOGISTIK for domestic supply traffic and railway construction logistics. SPITZKE Group employs ~2,300 skilled workers in Germany and Europe.
• RAILPOOLcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 23 October 2023RAILPOOL signed contracts for delivery of 45 Modula locomotives with option for 152 more in October 2023. Modula BDD (hybrid dual engine + battery) and EDD (catenary + diesel) versions for German leasing market. Full-service model with RAILPOOL's own workshop network.
• duisport railminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 May 2023Letter of intent signed at transport logistic 2023 for up to two Modula locomotives with hydrogen drives. Duisburg Gateway terminal planned as largely climate-neutral. Vossloh contributing expertise from preliminary 2022 study on hydrogen-powered shunting locomotives. Modula EBB (electric + battery) versions going into service at Port of Duisburg in 2025.
• Siemens MobilitycoreTechnology or Integration · 29 September 2021Siemens Mobility equips Vossloh Locomotives' DM 20 Dual Mode platform with ETCS Level 2 (Baseline 3, Release 2) for cross-border operations in Netherlands, Germany, and Austria. Initial installation in 100 locomotives. Maintenance-free ETCS technology for safe, cross-border freight traffic.
• Nexrail / InfraVia Capital PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 September 2021Nexrail (backed by InfraVia Capital Partners) entered exclusive agreement for purchase of 53 existing shunting locomotives leasing pool plus up to 50 DE 18 Stage V SmartHybrid locomotives for Benelux region. Nexrail created with portfolio company of funds managed by InfraVia. Multi-country homologation for France, Belgium, and Luxembourg achieved December 2024. Framework agreement for 120 locomotives signed 2021.
• VTG Rail EuropeminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 14 April 2021VTG Rail Europe and IMATEQ joined forces for first joint workshop for integrated railway maintenance. VTG manages large European rail vehicle fleet and partnered with IMATEQ service subsidiary.

Scale indicators20 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Stadler Rail: Swiss rolling stock manufacturer producing locomotives, multiple units, and trams. Competes directly with Vossloh in European freight and shunting locomotives, and increasingly in hybrid and battery-electric traction platforms.
• Newag: Polish rolling stock manufacturer producing diesel, electric, and hybrid locomotives and multiple units. Direct competitor in Central European freight and shunting markets with comparable modular platform approach.
• CZ LOKO: Czech manufacturer of diesel and electric shunting and freight locomotives for Central and Eastern European markets. Closely comparable product portfolio in the shunting and light freight locomotive segment.
• Progress Rail (Caterpillar): US-based manufacturer and re-manufacturer of locomotives (EMD brand) with growing European footprint. Competes in shunting and freight locomotives and provides heavy maintenance and repowering services similar to IMATEQ.

Broad incumbents

• Alstom: Global rail equipment manufacturer offering locomotives, signaling, and services. Competes across European freight locomotives and has supplied on-board signaling solutions integrated with Vossloh platforms.
• Wabtec Corporation: Global rail equipment and services provider offering locomotives, components, and digital solutions. Competes in freight propulsion and aftermarket services, and overlaps with Vossloh on component supply and predictive maintenance technologies.
• Hitachi Rail: Global rail solutions provider delivering locomotives, trains, and digital rail services. Competes in European main-line and freight segments and has deep institutional relationships across European rail operators.
• CRRC Corporation: World's largest rail vehicle manufacturer and ultimate parent of CRRC ZELC. Engaged in locomotive manufacturing, signaling, and turnkey rail solutions globally; relevant as parent and as broader competitive force in European tenders.
• Siemens Mobility: Global rail technology incumbent supplying locomotives (Vectron), rail automation, and turnkey systems. Direct competitor in European main-line and shunting locomotives, and an existing technology partner to Vossloh for ETCS integration.

Others

• Voith: German drivetrain and rail components specialist supplying transmissions, couplings, and digital services to locomotive OEMs. Comparable as a Tier-1 supplier into the same European rail freight ecosystem rather than as a direct OEM competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/vossloh-locomotives-gmbh

Compliance10 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries2 records

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 Voss loh Rolling Stock