What automotive thüringen does

automotive thüringen e.V. is a registered non-profit association (eingetragener Verein) founded in 2003 and headquartered in Erfurt, Thuringia, Germany. It operates as a regional network organization serving the automotive supplier industry, bringing together approximately 112 member companies — including Tier 1/Tier 2 suppliers (BMW Fahrzeugtechnik, CATL, AAM Eisenach, BENTELER, Hirschvogel, Mubea), service providers, equipment manufacturers, and research institutions (Fraunhofer IKTS/IDMT, TU Ilmenau, Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena) — collectively employing around 30,000 people and generating €4.4 billion in annual revenue.

The organization's service portfolio is modular and centered on knowledge transfer, advocacy, and collaborative innovation. Core offerings include the at-Akademie (a knowledge network delivering seminars, working groups, and continuing education programs including the KI-X-Industry Workshop), Interessenvertretung (political lobbying and advocacy with the Thuringian state government), Innovationsfelder (innovation project support, trendscouting, and idea-generation workshops), and Publikationen (annual Branchenreport, Branchenmonitoring surveys, and thematic studies). It also manages cross-organizational project clusters such as InSuM (Interior-Hub for Sustainable Mobility, launched 2024 with partners in Saxony and Bavaria) and BeaT (vocational education for automotive transformation, launched 2022 with Fraunhofer IKTS).

The business model is membership-based: annual membership fees governed by the Beitragsordnung 2025, supplemented by fee-based seminars, workshops, and events (e.g., 850 EUR + VAT for members, 1,150 EUR + VAT for non-members per workshop). Distribution is direct via the Erfurt office, complemented by online portals, trade show presence (Vehicle Tech Week, Automotive Interiors Expo), newsletters, and LinkedIn. The organization is governed by a six-member board (Vorstand) chaired by Mathias Hasecke, with operational leadership including Dr. Philipp Grunden (Director Innovation & Strategy). It is not publicly traded and has no parent company; revenue is not publicly disclosed.

Name

automotive thüringen

Legal name

automotive thüringen e.V.

Website

https://automotive-thueringen.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

automotive thüringen e.V. is a non-profit regional network association in Thuringia, Germany, serving approximately 112 automotive supplier, service, equipment, and research member companies through training, political advocacy, innovation project management, and industry publications.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Erfurt

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Annual membership fees from ~112 member companies across automotive suppliers, service providers, equipment manufacturers, and research institutions. Fee structure based on company category (supplier, machinery/tooling, services, R&D) and is governed by the association's fee schedule (Beitragsordnung).
2. Seminar and Training Fees: Revenue from at-Academy seminars and workshops including the KI-X-Industry Workshop. Fees vary for members (850 EUR plus VAT) vs non-members (1,150 EUR plus VAT).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

automotive thüringen is a registered industry network association (e.V.) for the automotive supplier industry in Thuringia, Germany. It provides membership-based services including networking events, training seminars (at-Academy), political lobbying/advocacy, innovation project support (InSuM, BeaT), industry publications (Branchenreport), and B2B matchmaking to approximately 112 member companies spanning suppliers, service providers, equipment manufacturers, and research institutions.

Product overview

automotive thüringen operates as a network organization and innovation cluster providing a modular service portfolio centered around member support for the automotive supplier industry in Thuringia, Germany. The core offerings include the at-Akademie (Wissensnetzwerk) for seminars and continuing education, Interessenvertretung for political lobbying and advocacy, Innovationsfelder for innovation project support and trendscouting, and Publikationen including annual Branchenreport and Branchenmonitoring surveys. The organization also manages collaborative project clusters such as InSuM (Interior-Hub for Sustainable Mobility) and BeaT (vocational education for automotive transformation). With approximately 112 member companies representing 30,000 employees and 4.4 billion euros in annual revenue, the network provides access to industry knowledge, networking events, and joint innovation initiatives. The product architecture functions as a service platform rather than a software product, with offerings bundled around knowledge transfer, advocacy, and collaborative innovation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• automotive thüringen Membership
• at-Academy (Wissensnetzwerk)
• Interessenvertretung (Lobbying and Advocacy)
• Innovationsfelder (Innovation Fields)
• Publikationen (Publications)
• InSuM (Interior-Hub for Sustainable Mobility)
• BeaT (Vocational Education for Automotive Transformation)

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, secondary, strategic and minor.

• AMZ Netzwerk Automobilzulieferer SachsencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership within the InSuM (Interior-Hub for Sustainable Mobility) project. AMZ Sachsen contributes to cross-regional networking of automotive suppliers, knowledge transfer, and scaling of R&D solutions across the German automotive industry.
• Cluster Automotive Bayern InnovativcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership within the InSuM project. Contributes to the four-partner consortium focused on sustainable mobility interior solutions and cross-regional transfer of automotive innovations.
• TUCed (TU Chemnitz)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTransfer and continuing education institute of TU Chemnitz. Partner in InSuM project providing academic expertise for automotive transformation and workforce qualification.
• Fraunhofer IKTScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVerbundkoordination (lead partner) in BeaT project (Berufliche Bildung erneuern für die automobile Transformation). Partnership focused on vocational training innovation for automotive workforce transformation.
• Friedrich-Schiller-Universität JenasecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner in BeaT project contributing research expertise on automotive industry transformation and qualification needs.
• ITS mobility e.V.secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerMobility network partner based in Braunschweig, collaborating on autonomous mobility topics. automotive thüringen participates in Lex Mobilis Kongress organized by ITS mobility.
• Thüringer LandesregierungstrategicOthersActive branch dialogue with new Thuringian state government. automotive thüringen advocates for automotive industry interests in economic policy.
• Thüringer Skiverband (TSV)minorOthersJoint Förderpool initiative connecting member companies with sports talents for skilled workforce development. Also co-organizes Automotive Biathlon Cup event.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Cluster Automotive Bayern Innovativ (Bayern Innovativ GmbH): Bavarian automotive cluster operated by Bayern Innovativ. Direct partner in the InSuM consortium with automotive thüringen. Same regional automotive industry network model focused on innovation, training, and supplier support in Bavaria.
• ProSTEP AG: International association for product lifecycle management and standards in the automotive industry. Same association/working group model serving automotive industry participants with standards, events, and member collaboration. Comparable non-profit industry association structure.
• ITS mobility e.V. Mobility network/association based in Braunschweig, Germany. Direct partner with automotive thüringen for autonomous mobility topics (Lex Mobilis Kongress). Similar industry association model focused on the mobility sector with networking, events, and project coordination.
• it's OWL (Intelligente Technische Systeme OstWestfalenLippe): Regional technology cluster in OstWestfalenLippe, Germany. Same regional industry cluster model focused on intelligent technical systems, providing networking, innovation support, and project management for member companies with comparable funding structures.
• AMZ Netzwerk Automobilzulieferer Sachsen: Automotive supplier network/association in Saxony, Germany. Direct partner in the InSuM consortium with automotive thüringen. Operates the same regional automotive supplier network model serving its respective German state with training, innovation support, lobbying, and B2B matchmaking.

Regional players

• Berlin Partner für Wirtschaft und Technologie GmbH: Economic development agency for the Berlin-Brandenburg region. Provides some automotive industry cluster services (mobility, supplier support) but with broader industry scope than automotive thüringen's pure automotive supplier focus.
• Wirtschaftsförderung Region Stuttgart GmbH: Economic development agency for the Stuttgart region, home to major German automotive OEM headquarters (Mercedes-Benz, Porsche). Provides automotive industry cluster support, supplier networking, and innovation services comparable in scope but serving a different geographic region in Germany.

Others

• Bitkom e.V. German digital industry association. Adjacent to automotive thüringen through the automotive digitization and KI-X-Industry Workshop topics. Provides industry association services, lobbying, and networking, but focuses on digital industries broadly rather than automotive suppliers specifically.
• IHK Erfurt (Industrie- und Handelskammer Erfurt): Local chamber of industry and commerce serving the Thuringia region. Co-located regional business representation organization with overlapping member base in the regional business community, but with broader scope than automotive thüringen's automotive-specific focus.

Broad incumbents

• VDA - Verband der Automobilindustrie: German national automotive industry association representing OEMs, suppliers, and service providers across all of Germany. Broader scope than regional networks like automotive thüringen; provides national-level lobbying and industry representation, while at operates at the regional Thuringia level.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/automotive-thueringen-ev

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about automotive thüringen