Autohilfe Zürich AG

What Autohilfe Zürich AG does

Autohilfe Zürich AG is a privately-held Swiss roadside assistance and vehicle recovery company headquartered in Wallisellen, Canton Zurich. It delivers 24/7 breakdown assistance, accident recovery, vehicle transport across Switzerland and into bordering European countries, and specialised heavy-vehicle and special-operations services (lifting, rotating, transporting and positioning loads up to 60 tonnes). The firm operates a fleet of more than 20 specialised recovery vehicles (underlift tow trucks, cranes up to 50mt, sliding platforms, workshop vehicles), four physical sites (administrative headquarters and storage in Wallisellen, the Herti Garage workshop in Wallisellen, the Restwertkompetenzzentrum residual-value centre in Oberhasli), and a wholly-owned workshop subsidiary (Herti Garage GmbH), with 24/7 call-handling routed through sister company Überlandfunk Stadnik & Brunner AG under common ownership with CEO Fabian Knecht.

Revenue is generated on a transaction-fee basis per incident across five streams: roadside emergency assistance, vehicle transport, heavy commercial-vehicle services, white-label “All in One” solutions for garage partners, and Herti Garage workshop services. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed. The go-to-market is sales-led through insurance partnerships (TCS, Europa Assistance, AVD, Winterthur, Zurich Versicherung), OEM relationships (Mercedes-Benz, MAN, Volvo Trucks, AMAG), rental and logistics fleets (Sixt, Enterprise, Planzer), and government and police contracts (Kantonspolizei Zürich, Stadtpolizei Zürich, Grenzwachtkorps, Stadt Zürich). Primary customer segments are insured private motorists, garage partners, truck-fleet operators, insurance carriers and public authorities.

The company employs 30+ staff split between deployed road-side assistants and a back-office team, and is led by CEO/owner Fabian Knecht, Chief Business Owner Michelle Herzog and Chief Accounting Owner Jeanine Immer. Distribution is anchored by a 24/7 emergency hotline and an 80+ partner referral network, with brand building supported through sponsorships of ZSC Lions and humanitarian organisations (Saves Help, KMSK).

Name

Autohilfe Zürich AG

Legal name

Autohilfe Zürich AG

Website

https://autohilfe.ch

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Autohilfe Zürich AG is a Swiss 24/7 roadside assistance and vehicle recovery provider based in Wallisellen, serving private motorists, insurers, garage partners, fleet operators, and government bodies across Switzerland and bordering countries via a 30+ team and specialised recovery fleet.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Roadside Assistance and Vehicle Recovery

NAICS

Motor Vehicle Towing (488410), General Automotive Repair (811111), Automotive Repair and Maintenance (8111)

SIC

Services-Automotive Repair, Services & Parking (7500)

akta.pro primary industry

Mobile Auto Repair & Roadside Assistance (TLAKAAAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

General Heavy-Duty Truck & Bus Repair (Full-Service Shops) (TLAKABAA), Vehicle Pickup/Delivery & Concierge (Key Handling, Inspections, Condition Reports) (HSAKAFAL), General Automotive Repair & Maintenance (TLAKAAAA), Inoperable / Non-Running Vehicle Transport (HSAKAFAI)

Keywords

• Roadside assistance services
• Vehicle recovery services
• Vehicle transport logistics
• Heavy vehicle breakdown
• Accident recovery services

Headquarters

HQ city

Wallisellen

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Roadside Emergency Assistance Services: Fees for 24/7 breakdown and accident recovery services, including on-site assistance, towing to garage, and coordination of onward mobility (rental vehicles, public transport, hotels). Revenue is generated on a per-service transaction basis.
2. Vehicle Transport: Fees for transporting vehicles of all types across Switzerland and Europe, including standard trailers, heavy-duty transport vehicles, and specialized crane operations up to 60 tonnes.
3. Garage and Workshop Services: Herti Garage GmbH, a wholly-owned subsidiary, provides vehicle maintenance and repair services following manufacturer specifications, generating service and repair fees.
4. White-Label Solutions for Garages: "All in One" solutions for garage partners, where Autohilfe handles call routing, vehicle delivery, and transport services in the garage's name, charging per service rendered.
5. Truck/Heavy Vehicle Services: Specialized breakdown and accident recovery for heavy commercial vehicles (trucks, coaches, double-articulated buses) throughout Switzerland and bordering countries, including on-site repair, tire service, and replacement vehicle delivery.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Autohilfe Zürich AG provides 24/7 emergency roadside assistance, accident recovery, and vehicle transport services across Switzerland and into bordering countries, handling vehicles from e-bikes through to double-articulated buses. Through its wholly-owned subsidiary Herti Garage GmbH it also operates an in-house workshop for manufacturer-spec repairs, and it offers white-label "All in One" solutions to garage partners and dedicated breakdown/recovery programs for heavy commercial vehicles and government clients.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• 24h Pannenhilfe (24/7 Breakdown Assistance)

Named customers13 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

24 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Überlandfunk Stadnik & Brunner AGcoreTechnology or IntegrationExternal specialist for telephone, secretarial, customer and order services operating 24/7. Handles call-taking, order processing, and customer service on behalf of Autohilfe Zürich. Both companies share the same owner (Fabian Knecht) and share values including high quality standards and 24/7 service.
• Herti Garage GmbHcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerWholly-owned subsidiary of Autohilfe Zürich AG. Provides an in-house workshop for vehicle maintenance and repair services following manufacturer specifications. Located at Gewerbehallenstrasse 4, 8304 Wallisellen. Open Monday-Friday 07:30-12:00, 13:30-17:30.
• ZSC LionsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPremium ice hockey club sponsorship. The connection goes beyond traditional sponsorship — ZSC represents values of fighting spirit, team cohesion, passion, and identity that align with Fabian Knecht and Autohilfe Zürich's daily operations.
• Saves HelpminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHumanitarian aid project providing direct, unbureaucratic, and sustainable help to people in difficult life situations. Autohilfe Zürich sponsors this project based on the conviction that genuine help should be honest, effective, and close to people.
• KMSK (Kinder mit seltenen Krankheiten)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerSupport for children with rare diseases and their families who face enormous emotional, organisational, and financial challenges. Autohilfe Zürich supports KMSK to provide hope, relief, and visibility to these families.
• TCS (Touring Club Suisse)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor Swiss automobile club that refers members requiring roadside assistance and vehicle recovery to Autohilfe Zürich. One of the flagship partner relationships in the insurance and assistance category.
• Europa AssistancecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInternational assistance provider operating in Switzerland. Partners with Autohilfe Zürich for vehicle recovery and roadside assistance services for their policyholders.
• AVD (Automobilclub von Deutschland)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGerman automobile club that collaborates with Autohilfe Zürich for cross-border roadside assistance and vehicle recovery in Switzerland.
• Winterthur VersicherungencoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSwiss insurance company that partners with Autohilfe Zürich for roadside assistance and vehicle recovery services for its policyholders.
• Kantonspolizei ZürichcoreOthersCantonal police of Zurich works with Autohilfe Zürich for vehicle recovery at accident scenes and emergency situations involving official vehicles.
• Stadtpolizei ZürichcoreOthersCity police of Zurich partners with Autohilfe Zürich for vehicle recovery services and accident scene management.
• Stadt ZürichcoreOthersCity of Zurich municipal government (including various departments such as Stadtpolizei, Schutz & Rettung, Tiefbauamt, Entsorgung & Recycling, Wasserversorgung) partners with Autohilfe Zürich for municipal vehicle assistance and support services.
• AMAGcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor Swiss vehicle importer (representing Volkswagen, Audi, Škoda, Seat, Cupra, and others) partners with Autohilfe Zürich for roadside assistance and vehicle transport services.
• Mercedes-BenzcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVehicle manufacturer partnership for breakdown and accident recovery services for Mercedes-Benz vehicles in Switzerland.
• MANcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCommercial vehicle manufacturer (trucks and buses) partnering with Autohilfe Zürich for heavy vehicle breakdown and recovery services.
• Volvo TruckscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCommercial vehicle manufacturer partnership for Volvo truck breakdown and accident recovery services in Switzerland.
• SixtminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInternational car rental company with operations in Switzerland. Partnership with Autohilfe Zürich for vehicle transport and recovery services for Sixt's fleet.
• Enterprise Rent-A-CarminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCar rental company partnership for vehicle transport and recovery services for Enterprise's Swiss fleet.
• MigrosminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor Swiss retail conglomerate with a corporate vehicle fleet. Partnership with Autohilfe Zürich for vehicle assistance services.
• PlanzerminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSwiss transport and logistics company. Partnership with Autohilfe Zürich for heavy vehicle breakdown and recovery services.
• FalckcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInternational emergency and rescue services provider. Collaboration with Autohilfe Zürich on roadside assistance and vehicle recovery operations.
• SwisscomminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSwiss telecommunications provider partnering with Autohilfe Zürich for vehicle assistance services related to corporate fleet.
• FIA (Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInternational automobile federation. Partnership with Autohilfe Zürich for roadside assistance services for FIA members in Switzerland.
• OAMTC (Österreichischer Automobil-, Motorrad- und Touring Club)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAustrian automobile club. Partnership with Autohilfe Zürich for cross-border roadside assistance services.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• ADAC: Germany's largest automobile club operates a national roadside assistance, towing, and recovery network with much greater scale and breadth than Autohilfe Zürich, serving as the dominant incumbent in the same product category across the DACH region.
• Agero: Major North American roadside assistance and connected vehicle services platform serving insurance carriers and OEMs with dispatch and towing network management; operates at a larger scale but in the same category as Autohilfe Zürich's insurance and OEM channel business.
• AXA Assistance: International assistance provider serving Swiss insurance clients with roadside assistance and vehicle recovery; a wider incumbent that competes with Autohilfe Zürich for insurance-channel incident volume.
• Europa Assistance: Global assistance provider that contracts local recovery operators (including Autohilfe Zürich) to fulfil roadside and recovery incidents on behalf of insurance and corporate clients; competes at the B2B platform layer with in-house dispatch capabilities.
• Allianz Assistance: Global assistance arm of Allianz operating in Switzerland, providing insurance-tied roadside and recovery services with its own dispatch network; a broader incumbent competing for the same insurance referral channel as Autohilfe Zürich.

Regional players

• AvD (Automobilclub von Deutschland): German automobile club operating a comparable roadside assistance and vehicle recovery model; AvD is currently a referral partner of Autohilfe Zürich for cross-border incidents in Switzerland, and competes in the same service category across the German market.
• ÖAMTC: Austrian automobile club running its own roadside assistance and recovery fleet; ÖAMTC partners with Autohilfe Zürich for cross-border Swiss incidents and operates a near-identical club-based roadside model in Austria.

Direct peers

• Falck: International emergency, rescue, and roadside assistance operator with direct towing and recovery capabilities; currently partners with Autohilfe Zürich on joint operations, and competes for the same commercial and insurance contract work across Europe.
• TCS (Touring Club Suisse): Switzerland's largest automobile club operates its own roadside assistance and towing network, serving as both a major referral partner and the most direct competitor to Autohilfe Zürich AG in the Swiss breakdown and recovery market.

Emerging players

• Prometeon / Pannenhilfe regional operators: Regional Swiss roadside assistance and towing operators (for example, smaller Zurich-area competitors and Bern/Geneva-based providers) competing directly with Autohilfe Zürich for local breakdown volume and garage white-label contracts.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/autohilfe-z%C3%BCrich-ag

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 Autohilfe Zürich AG