OstalbMobil

What OstalbMobil does

OstalbMobil GmbH is a public transport tariff and coordination organization (Verkehrsverbund) for the Ostalbkreis district in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. The company serves as the single coordination body integrating 11 partner transportation companies (Verkehrsunternehmen) including OVA (Omnibusverkehr Aalen) and OK.go under a unified regional tariff system. Its core product portfolio centers on the Deutschland-Ticket family — the nationwide €63/month Deutschland-Ticket subscription, the employer-subsidized D-Ticket Job (€55.10/month), and the youth D-Ticket JugendBW (€45/month) — supplemented by the Baden-Württemberg-Ticket regional day pass, single/group/family tickets, the OstalbMobil Chipkarte prepaid card (~42,000 in circulation), and the FreieZeitTicket leisure product introduced August 2025.

The technology stack is conventional digital public-transport infrastructure: an OstalbMobil-App for iOS and Android providing real-time schedule information and ticketing, DB Navigator-App integration since June 2020 for ticket distribution, the CiCoBW (Check-in-Check-out Baden-Württemberg) automatic fare system, bwtarif continuation tickets for cross-regional travel, and the bwegtPlus loyalty program. Three physical service centers in Aalen, Ellwangen, and Schwäbisch Gmünd handle in-person sales and customer support. The company is privately held as a GmbH, governed by a supervisory board chaired by Landrat Dr. Joachim Bläse with Managing Director Arne Behrens. Customer reach includes approximately 26,700 D-Ticket subscribers and 42,000 Chipkarten users distributed across individual riders, students, commuters, families, and corporate accounts in the Ostalbkreis region, with the Landratsamt Ostalbkreis among the top corporate D-Ticket Job customers. Recent strategic activity includes the launch of the Härtsfeld-Takt bus enhancement (June 2024, ~€1.75M), federal BMDV funding for 20 electric buses through OVA (up to €5.408M), and service center expansion in 2026 to support the Landesgartenschau Ellwangen 2026 event.

Name

OstalbMobil

Legal name

OstalbMobil GmbH

Website

https://ostalbmobil.de

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

OstalbMobil GmbH is a publicly-governed Verkehrsverbund coordinating public transport for the Ostalbkreis district in Baden-Württemberg, integrating 11 partner operators under unified tariffs spanning the Deutschland-Ticket family, regional passes, and digital/physical ticketing channels for ~26,700 subscribers and 42,000 chip card users.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Transportation Services

NAICS

Support Activities for Transportation (488)

SIC

Transportation Services (4700), Local & Suburban Transit & Interurban Hwy Passenger Trans (4100)

akta.pro primary industry

Ground Transport Booking Platforms (Rail/Bus/Shuttle) (THALAFAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Transit & Ticketing Wallets (FSAMAEAG)

Keywords

• Regional public transport
• Transit ticketing services
• Commuter subscriptions
• Transport association
• Fare coordination

Headquarters

HQ city

Ellwangen

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Deutschland-Ticket Sales: Monthly subscription tickets valid for unlimited travel on all buses and trains (Nahverkehr) throughout Germany. Main products include standard Deutschland-Ticket (€63/month as of 2026), D-Ticket Job for employers (€55.10/month with 5% employer discount), and D-Ticket JugendBW for youth/students (€45/month as of 2026). Approximately 26,700 D-Tickets in circulation.
2. Baden-Württemberg-Ticket: Day ticket valid for unlimited travel across all Nahverkehr trains, buses, and trams in Baden-Württemberg. Base price €27 for single traveler, with €9 per additional person (up to 5 total). Valid all day until 3:00 AM the following day.
3. Single Tickets and Day Tickets: Individual fare tickets for single journeys within the OstalbMobil tariff zones. Also includes group tickets, family day tickets, and special leisure tickets.
4. FahrradTicket Bus: €1 bicycle transport ticket for bus travel, valid per journey and bicycle regardless of distance. Free bicycle transport on trains within Ostalbkreis during off-peak hours.
5. OstalbMobil Chipkarte Prepaid: Approximately 42,000 rechargeable chip cards in circulation. Offers 20%+ discount on single tickets. Used by occasional riders as both a payment medium and entry point to Deutschland-Ticket subscriptions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

OstalbMobil coordinates and sells public transport ticketing across the Ostalbkreis district in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. Its core offerings are the Deutschland-Ticket subscription family (nationwide €63/month), the Baden-Württemberg-Ticket day pass, regional single and family tickets, and a rechargeable Chipkarte (approximately 42,000 in circulation), distributed through three service points, mobile apps, the DB Navigator integration, and partner bus operators.

Product overview

OstalbMobil is a public transport tariff and association serving the Ostalbkreis district in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. The organization operates as a coordination body between multiple transport companies (11 partner companies), providing a unified tariff system, ticketing, and service locations across the region. The product portfolio centers on the Deutschland-Ticket family (Germany-Ticket at €63/month, D-Ticket Job, and D-Ticket JugendBW) supplemented by the Baden-Württemberg-Ticket for regional day travel, the OstalbMobil Chipkarte (prepaid reloadable card with 20%+ discounts), and various special tickets (single, group, student, senior, commuter, family, and leisure tickets). Digital services include the OstalbMobil-App for trip planning and real-time information, integration with the DB Navigator-App for mobile ticketing, the bwtarif system for cross-regional travel, and CiCoBW (Check-in-Check-out) for automatic fare calculation. Physical infrastructure includes three service centers (Aalen, Ellwangen, Schwäbisch Gmünd), accessibility features, and OVA electric bus fleet. Additional services include the Mobilitätsgarantie (mobility guarantee), FahrradTicket (bicycle transport), Ehrenamtskarte discounts, and a passenger advisory council. The organization also promotes hiking routes and leisure travel to tourist destinations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Deutschland-Ticket Monthly subscription ticket valid for unlimited travel on all buses and trains (Nahverkehr) throughout Germany. Priced at €63/month from January 2026 (up from €58 in 2025 and €49 at launch). Available via app or chip card.
• D-Ticket Job Employer-subsidized Deutschland-Ticket variant priced at €55.10/month, available to companies and public institutions that contribute at least 5% (typically 25-50%) of the cost. Targeted at employers offering sustainable mobility benefits to employees.
• D-Ticket JugendBW Youth variant of the Deutschland-Ticket for persons up to age 21 and students/trainees/volunteers up to age 27 with proof of status. Priced at €45/month from January 2026, valid for 365 days initially.
• Baden-Württemberg-Ticket Day ticket for unlimited travel across all Nahverkehr trains, buses, and trams in Baden-Württemberg. Base price €27 for one traveler, €9 per additional person (up to 5 total). Up to 3 children ages 6-14 travel free. Valid until 3:00 AM the following day.
• OstalbMobil Chipkarte Reloadable prepaid smart card for occasional public transport users, offering over 20% discount on single tickets. Approximately 42,000 cards in circulation; usable as a payment medium and entry point to Deutschland-Ticket subscriptions.
• EinzelFahrschein (Single Ticket) Individual single-ride tickets for point-to-point travel within OstalbMobil tariff zones. Available for adults and children; can be purchased via app, on buses, or at ticket machines.
• OstalbMobil FreieZeitTicket Leisure ticket introduced August 1, 2025, providing flexible weekend and holiday travel within the OstalbMobil network area.
• Mobilitätsgarantie (Mobility Guarantee) Guarantee service for Abo-card holders (excluding D-Ticket JugendBW) and disabled persons with valid passes. Allows taxi use and reimbursement if arrival is delayed more than 30 minutes due to public transport delays or cancellations.
• FahrradTicket Bus Bicycle transport ticket priced at €1 per journey per bicycle on buses (ages 6+). Free bicycle transport on trains within Ostalbkreis during off-peak hours; bwFAHRRAD card €6 for off-peak train travel.
• CiCoBW (Check-in-Check-out Baden-Württemberg) E-ticket system integrated into various apps. Passengers simply check in and check out at stations via smartphone; the system automatically calculates the cheapest fare for journeys across Baden-Württemberg.
• Familientageskarten (Family Day Tickets) Family day tickets valid for up to 5 adults (with 2 children up to age 14 counting as 1 adult). Pricing varies by zone: €7 for the city of Aalen, €14 for the wider Aalen/Essingen/Bartholomä area and Bedienungsgebiet Beck+Schubert.
• Härtsfeld-Takt Enhanced bus service on the Härtsfeld region and Oberkochen area with half-hourly weekday service between Waldhausen and Ebnat, hourly service to Neresheim, and on-demand Härtsfeldrufbus for smaller communities. Part of a €1.75 million enhancement package.
• Job-Linien Oberkochen Commuter bus lines connecting Oberkochen with surrounding areas. Former Zeiss works bus service integrated into regular public transport and opened to all passengers.

Quantifiable outcome

• 66% of OstalbMobil customers use the Deutschland-Ticket
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and minor.

• OVA (Omnibusverkehr Aalen)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2024OVA is the primary city bus operator in Aalen, operating 20 new electric buses (10 delivered by Dec 2024) procured with €5.4M+ in federal BMDV funding. OVA is transitioning to electric bus fleet with charging infrastructure provided by E.ON Drive, also federally funded at €597,750.
• bwegt (Nahverkehrsgesellschaft Baden-Württemberg)coreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2021Partnership with the Baden-Württemberg state transport organization for the bwWeiterfahrt continuation ticket system, CiCoBW check-in/check-out system, and bwegtPlus loyalty program. Enables seamless travel across Baden-Württemberg transport networks.
• Deutsche Bahn (DB)coreTechnology or Integration · 1 June 2020Partnership with Deutsche Bahn enabling OstalbMobil ticket sales through the DB Navigator mobile application. Customers can purchase single tickets and day tickets for the OstalbMobil area through DB's platform. The partnership extends OstalbMobil's digital distribution reach and provides integration with nationwide rail services.
• 11 Partner Transportation Companies (Verkehrsunternehmen)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOstalbMobil coordinates with 11 partner bus companies including OVA (Omnibusverkehr Aalen), OK.go, Omnibus Dannenmann, Rühle-Gold, Grötzinger, and others. These companies operate bus services throughout the Ostalbkreis under the unified OstalbMobil tariff. The partnership enables the joint Lieberbus.de recruitment campaign for bus drivers.
• CiCoBW Partner AppscoreTechnology or IntegrationCiCoBW (Check-in-Check-out Baden-Württemberg) is integrated into multiple apps, allowing passengers to simply check in and out at stations with automatic fare calculation. The system enables seamless travel across Baden-Württemberg without requiring tariff knowledge.
• OK.go (Omnibus GmbH)majorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBus operator partner operating StadtLandBus services, including expanded evening and weekend service since March 2024. Took over operations from Omnibus Kolb in September 2023. Operates services to the Landesgartenschau Ellwangen 2026.
• Omnibus DannenmannmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBus operator partner operating line 268 services between Schwäbisch Gmünd, Mutlangen, Alfdorf, and Lorch since August 2025, providing hourly weekday service and bi-hourly weekend connections.
• AOK – Gesundheitskasse OstwürttembergminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealth insurance partner collaborating with OstalbMobil's Fahrgastbeirat on the 'Bushaltestellen-Gymnastik' (bus stop exercise) project, designing exercise posters for waiting passengers.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• DB Regio Baden-Württemberg: Deutsche Bahn's regional rail subsidiary operating regional rail services in Baden-Württemberg, including the rail connections integrated into OstalbMobil’s tariff. A partner and indirect stakeholder rather than a direct peer, but the dominant rail operator in the OstalbMobil service area.
• bwegt: State-level brand and digital platform of the Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Transport, providing statewide journey planning, marketing, and the bwegtPlus loyalty program. bwegt is the state-level ecosystem that OstalbMobil operates within, not a direct competitor.

Direct peers

• VVS (Verkehrs- und Tarifverbund Stuttgart): Regional Verkehrsverbund serving the Stuttgart metropolitan area in Baden-Württemberg with the same organizational model as OstalbMobil: tariff coordination, ticket sales, and integration of multiple bus and rail operators. Same state-level regulatory framework and D-Ticket distribution.
• HNV (Heilbronner Hohenloher Haller Nahverkehr): Regional transport association serving the Heilbronn, Hohenlohe, and Hall regions of Baden-Württemberg. Comparable to OstalbMobil in size, geographic scope (regional, multi-operator), and Verkehrsverbund mandate, operating under the same bwtarif and D-Ticket system.
• VRN (Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Neckar): Larger regional transport association covering the Rhine-Neckar metropolitan area across Baden-Württemberg, Hesse, and Rhineland-Palatinate. Same Verkehrsverbund structure coordinating multiple bus and rail operators, with similar D-Ticket and bwtarif integration.

Broad incumbents

• MVV (Münchner Verkehrs- und Tarifverbund): Munich's regional transport association, one of the largest Verkehrsverbünde in Germany. Provides comparable tariff coordination, ticket sales, and mobile app services under the same national D-Ticket framework, but at metropolitan scale with subway integration.
• RMV (Rhein-Main-Verkehrsverbund): Major regional transport association covering the Frankfurt/Rhine-Main metropolitan area. Shares the same Verkehrsverbund model and Deutschland-Ticket distribution framework, but operates at significantly larger scale with a denser urban and suburban service area.
• HVV (Hamburger Verkehrsverbund): Hamburg's regional transport association, one of the pioneering Verkehrsverbünde in Germany. Comparable organizational structure for tariff coordination and multi-operator integration, though serving a large urban metro area rather than a rural district.
• VBB (Verkehrsverbund Berlin-Brandenburg): Transport association for Berlin and Brandenburg, comparable Verkehrsverbund model coordinating buses, trams, suburban rail, and regional trains. Operates under the same national D-Ticket framework and shares the basic tariff integration model.
• NVBW (Nahverkehrsgesellschaft Baden-Württemberg): State-level transport organization for Baden-Württemberg that operates the bwegt brand, the bwtarif system, and the CiCoBW check-in/check-out platform. NVBW is the parent entity above regional Verkehrsverbünde like OstalbMobil in the state tariff hierarchy.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ostalbmobil

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 OstalbMobil