CARLA CARGO
CARLA CARGO Engineering GmbH is a German manufacturer of manual and electric cargo bike trailers and handcarts, serving urban logistics operators, mobile food vendors, tradespeople, and micro-businesses across Europe and the USA with a modular platform and accessory ecosystem.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2015
- HeadquartersHerbolzheim, Germany
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What CARLA CARGO does
CARLA CARGO Engineering GmbH is a German manufacturer founded in 2015 and headquartered in Herbolzheim (Black Forest region), specializing in cargo bike trailers and handcarts. The company's core products are the manual CARLA line (mini, standard, maxi) and the electrically assisted eCARLA line (mini, standard, maxi, and the OR off-road variant), built on a standardized platform with an integrated mechanical or hydraulic overrun brake system enabling payloads up to 200 kg. The hardware integrates a Bafang hub motor with a 48V / 720Wh LiFePO4 battery on electric variants, providing pedelec assist up to 25 km/h and a reference range of 40-50 km.
The company monetizes through one-time hardware sales priced from €2,790 to €7,690, complemented by a deep accessory ecosystem of modular cargo setups (Bob Box, Folding BOX mini, Transportbox High, City Long Box, KAPT'N KEP Box, WERKHAUS stall system, VELOFRACHT 3-sided market stall, Paul Plane, Mobile Kitchen, HUGO Light, Fleet Transporter, Till Tidy, ramp) co-developed with specialist partners. Distribution runs through a global dealer network spanning Germany, Austria, Netherlands, Switzerland, and the USA, supported by a direct e-commerce storefront (shop.carlacargo.de) and an enterprise enquiry channel. Customers span urban last-mile delivery operators, mobile food and market vendors, tradespeople, event organizers, and micro-businesses; notable commercial users include Dutch Express (delivering for WholeFoods/Amazon in New York), Groenbezorgen, and Kurierzentrale Basel.
The company is privately held by founder Markus Bergmann, with no disclosed external venture funding and is recognized via the International Cargobike of the Year 2021 award and CABOTY 2022/2023 placements. Products are manufactured in the Black Forest and comply with German StVO road regulations, positioning 'made in Germany' as a core brand pillar.
CARLA CARGO firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- CARLA CARGO
- Legal name
- CARLA CARGO Engineering GmbH
- Website
- https://carlacargo.de
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2015
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- CARLA CARGO Engineering GmbH is a German manufacturer of manual and electric cargo bike trailers and handcarts, serving urban logistics operators, mobile food vendors, tradespeople, and micro-businesses across Europe and the USA with a modular platform and accessory ecosystem.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
CARLA CARGO industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Cargo Bike Trailers and Electric Cargo Trailers
- NAICS
- Motorcycle, Bicycle, and Parts Manufacturing (336991)
- SIC
- Motorcycles, Bicycles & Parts (3751)
- akta.pro primary industry
- E-bikes & E-cargo Bikes Manufacturing (IMACAOAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Cargo & Utility Bike Retail (CRAMAHAF), Bike Parts & Components Retail (CRAMAHAB)
Keywords
Where CARLA CARGO is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Herbolzheim
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
CARLA CARGO business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Cargo Bike and Trailer Hardware Sales: Primary revenue stream from selling CARLA bike trailers (CARLA, CARLA mini, CARLA maxi) and eCARLA electric cargo bike trailers in various sizes. Products are sold with base plates included; accessories and hitches are additional. Prices range from €2,790 to €7,690 depending on model and configuration. One-time purchase model.
- Cargo Setup Accessories: Sale of modular cargo containers, boxes, market stalls, mobile kitchens, and other accessories that attach to the CARLA platform. These include Bob Box, Folding BOX mini, Transportbox High, City Long Box, KAPT'N KEP Box, market stalls, and mobile kitchens, sold as separate add-ons.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | CARLA mini — compact platform, base price |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | CARLA — standard platform, base price |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | CARLA maxi — large platform, base price |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | eCARLA mini — electric assist, compact |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | eCARLA — electric assist, standard |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | eCARLA maxi — electric assist, large |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels7 records
CARLA CARGO product offering
Product offeringCore offering
CARLA CARGO designs, manufactures, and sells modular cargo bike trailers and handcarts (manual CARLA line and electric eCARLA line in mini, standard, and maxi variants) along with a modular ecosystem of cargo box accessories, market stalls, mobile kitchens, and transport solutions. Products are built in the Black Forest, Germany, feature an integrated mechanical overrun brake system, and are sold to commercial and individual buyers via a dealer network and direct e-commerce shop. Pricing ranges from €2,790 for CARLA mini to €7,690 for eCARLA maxi.
Product overview
CARLA CARGO is a German company specializing in cargo bike trailers and hand carts made in the Black Forest. The product portfolio consists of two main product lines: (1) The CARLA series — manual bike trailers and hand carts available in three sizes (mini, standard, maxi) — and (2) The eCARLA series — electrically-assisted versions with the same size variants plus an off-road (OR) model. Both series can be combined with regular bicycles or e-bikes and feature innovative mechanical or hydraulic overrun brakes. The company also offers a comprehensive ecosystem of cargo setup accessories including boxes (Bob Box, Folding BOX mini, Transportbox High, City Long Box, KAPT'N KEP), market stall solutions (WERKHAUS system, HUGO Light, Market stall 3 sides), specialized carriers (Fleet Transporter, Till Tidy, Paul Plane), a mobile kitchen module, and loading ramps. All products share a modular platform approach where customers can customize their setup based on specific transport needs.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- CARLA: Manual cargo bike trailer product line available in mini, standard, and maxi variants
- eCARLA
- CARLA mini
- CARLA maxi
- eCARLA mini
- eCARLA maxi
- Bob Box
- Paul Plane
- City Long Box
- Mobile Kitchen
Products and services
- CARLA Standard-size manual cargo bike trailer and handcart with platform dimensions of 1650 mm x 650 mm, maximum loading volume of 1.5 m³, and payload capacity of 206 kg (with base plate). Features an innovative mechanical or hydraulic overrun brake and a handcart function; compatible with regular bicycles or e-bikes. Base price €3,490 (incl. 19% VAT and base plate).
- CARLA mini Compact manual cargo bike trailer and handcart with platform dimensions of 1000 mm x 650 mm, maximum loading volume of 0.7 m³, weight 29 kg, and payload capacity of 221 kg. Features the innovative overrun braking system and handcart function. Base price €2,790 (incl. 19% VAT and base plate).
- CARLA maxi Large manual cargo bike trailer and handcart with platform dimensions of 1650 mm x 850 mm, maximum loading volume of 2.2 m³, weight 60 kg, and payload capacity of 215 kg. Maximum width of 1.15 m. Base price €4,990 (incl. 19% VAT and base plate).
- eCARLA Electrically assisted standard cargo bike trailer and handcart with pedelec assistance up to 25 km/h and handcart function up to 6 km/h. Powered by a Bafang hub motor with a 48V / 720 Wh LiFePO4 battery delivering up to 50 km range. Weight with base plate and battery: 59 kg, load capacity 191 kg. Base price €6,490 (incl. 19% VAT, base plate, battery, and charger).
- eCARLA mini Compact electrically assisted cargo bike trailer and handcart with pedelec assistance up to 25 km/h, handcart function up to 6 km/h, and LiFePO4 battery 720 Wh providing range up to 50 km. Features the innovative overrun brake system. Base price €5,890 (incl. 19% VAT, base plate, battery, and charger).
- eCARLA maxi Large electrically assisted cargo bike trailer and handcart with weight of 75 kg (base plate + battery) and load capacity of 200 kg. Features LiFePO4 battery and electric motor support. Base price €7,690 (incl. 19% VAT, base plate, battery, and charger).
- eCARLA OR Off-road electric version of the eCARLA cargo bike trailer, designed for rough terrain use. Built on the CARLA cargo bike platform with electric motor support for off-road applications.
- Bob Box Stackable wooden box cargo setup with internal dimensions of 1640 x 647 x 470 mm and maximum payload of 183 kg. Designed for CARLA trailers as part of the modular cargo ecosystem.
- Folding BOX mini Foldable cargo box with internal dimensions of 958 x 620 x 390 mm, maximum payload 205 kg, and 100% recyclable without metal or plastic. Designed for the CARLA mini platform.
- Transportbox High Lockable waterproof aluminum box with internal dimensions of 1600 x 600 x 520 mm and maximum payload of 188 kg. Designed as a secure cargo setup for CARLA trailers.
- City Long Box Multi-layer cargo box with dimensions 1650 x 665 x 1105 mm featuring 3-layer technology (canvas, aluminium sheet, polypropylene) with a strong mechanical lock reinforced with aluminium. Designed for CARLA trailers.
- KAPT'N KEP Box High-quality transport box with up to 1400 L volume, compatible with CARLA, CARLA maxi, and CARLA mini. Manufactured in Cologne, Germany.
- Stall and Transport System by WERKHAUS Simple plug-in market stall and transport system by WERKHAUS, delivered in a flat shipping carton with individual multi-color printing on wood. All containers are removable, creating a customizable market stall solution for the CARLA platform.
- HUGO Light Mobile market and information stand manufactured by P3 (an integrative company), combining quality with functionality at an affordable price point. Designed for CARLA trailers.
- Market Stall 3 Sides (VELOFRACHT) Professional 3-sided closed market stall manufactured by VELOFRACHT for CARLA, featuring quick and easy set-up, a large work surface, and proven solid construction.
- Till Tidy Cash register and organization system for CARLA with dimensions 1600 x 650 mm, weight 35.3 kg, and maximum payload of 172.7 kg. Designed as a tidy solution for point-of-sale on the go.
- Fleet Transporter Large transport cargo setup with dimensions 1600 x 650 x 1700 mm, weight 14.8 kg, and maximum payload of 193.2 kg. Designed for high-volume fleet delivery operations using CARLA.
- Paul Plane Large enclosed cargo box with internal dimensions of 1590 x 650 x 1385 mm and maximum payload of 181 kg. Features an optional waterproof PVC cover. Designed for CARLA trailers.
- Mobile Kitchen Modular mobile kitchen setup for CARLA trailers with battery, water tank, and gas bottle. Compact dimensions L 1850 mm x W 970 mm x H 1140 mm. Enables mobile food preparation at events and markets.
- Ramp Walkable ramp with lashing points compatible with all CARLA models. Maximum payload 186 kg. Enables easy loading of wheeled equipment onto the cargo platform.
- Hitches Coupling systems for connecting CARLA trailers to bicycles. Various hitch options are available for different bicycle types, sold as separate accessories.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 3,000 CARLAs deployed worldwide contributing to daily CO₂ reduction
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use CARLA CARGO
Customer profileNamed customers19 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
CARLA CARGO technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
CARLA CARGO partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- WERKHAUScoreWERKHAUS provides a stall and transport system for CARLA, featuring a simple plug-in system delivered in a flat shipping carton with individual multi-color printing on wood. All containers are removable, creating a customizable market stall solution built specifically for the CARLA platform.
- VELOFRACHTcoreVELOFRACHT manufactures a professional 3-sided closed market stall for CARLA, featuring quick and easy set-up, a large work surface, and proven solid construction. Designed as an integral part of the CARLA cargo ecosystem.
- P3 (Integrative Company)minorP3 manufactures the HUGO Light mobile market and information stand for CARLA, combining quality with functionality at an affordable price point. Notably, P3 is an integrative company, adding a social/ESG dimension to the partnership.
- KAPT'N KEPcoreKAPT'N KEP produces a cargo box (up to 1400L transport volume) for CARLA, CARLA maxi, and CARLA mini, high-quality and safely manufactured in Cologne, Germany.
- Dutch Express (New York)minorDutch Express operates multiple CARLAs 7 days a week delivering groceries for WholeFoods (Amazon) in New York. A notable commercial user demonstrating CARLA's viability for high-volume urban last-mile delivery at enterprise scale.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
CARLA CARGO competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Tern Bicycles: Global compact and cargo bike brand with the GSD and HSD models, competing for the same urban family and SME delivery use cases at scale through a multi-country dealer network.
- Riese & Müller: Premium German e-bike and e-cargo bike brand with deep German manufacturing roots, overlapping last-mile and family customers and competing for the same dealer shelf space and commercial fleet budgets.
Direct peers
- Urban Arrow: Dutch e-cargo bike maker serving the same urban last-mile delivery and family customer base. Most direct comparable on end-use and customer profile, though Urban Arrow sells full e-cargo bikes rather than trailers.
- Babboe: Dutch cargo bike manufacturer targeting families and small businesses, directly comparable on urban family/commercial use cases and European dealer-led GTM.
- Yuba Bicycles: US cargo bike maker focused on family and commercial transport (Mundo, Spicy Curry), directly comparable on SMB/family use cases and on North American dealer footprint relevant to CARLA's US growth.
- Bullitt (Larry vs Harry): Danish-origin cargo bike brand focused on urban commercial and family transport, with a comparable lightweight, modular design philosophy and European dealer network.
- Burley Design: Long-established US bike trailer maker (cargo and child trailers), the closest North American analogue on product form factor and on trailer-led commercial and family use cases.
- Croozer: German manufacturer of cargo and child bike trailers, the closest product-level peer to CARLA's trailer/cart platform, with overlapping European dealer distribution and family/commercial use cases.
- Benno Bikes: US utility/cargo e-bike brand focused on urban lifestyle and light cargo transport, overlapping CARLA's premium positioning and SMB/individual customer segment.
Emerging players
- Chike: US-based maker of compact e-cargo trikes targeting families and riders seeking stability, an emerging adjacent format competing for similar urban family/light-commercial demand.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
CARLA CARGO social profiles
Digital presenceCARLA CARGO compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance5 records
CARLA CARGO financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
CARLA CARGO leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
CARLA CARGO funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
CARLA CARGO M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about CARLA CARGO
What does CARLA CARGO do?
CARLA CARGO designs, manufactures, and sells modular cargo bike trailers and handcarts (manual CARLA line and electric eCARLA line in mini, standard, and maxi variants) along with a modular ecosystem of cargo box accessories, market stalls, mobile kitchens, and transport solutions. Products are built in the Black Forest, Germany, feature an integrated mechanical overrun brake system, and are sold to commercial and individual buyers via a dealer network and direct e-commerce shop. Pricing ranges from €2,790 for CARLA mini to €7,690 for eCARLA maxi.
Is CARLA CARGO a public or private company?
CARLA CARGO is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was CARLA CARGO founded?
CARLA CARGO was founded in 2015. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is CARLA CARGO based?
CARLA CARGO is headquartered in Herbolzheim, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does CARLA CARGO make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Cargo Bike and Trailer Hardware Sales are the primary driver. The others are cargo Setup Accessories.
Who are CARLA CARGO's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Tern Bicycles and Riese & Müller. Direct peers are Urban Arrow, Babboe, Yuba Bicycles, Bullitt (Larry vs Harry), Burley Design, Croozer and Benno Bikes. Chike is listed as an emerging player.
Does CARLA CARGO have an API?
No public API is recorded for CARLA CARGO.
What industry is CARLA CARGO in?
CARLA CARGO's product category is Cargo Bike Trailers and Electric Cargo Trailers. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMACAOAA, E-bikes & E-cargo Bikes Manufacturing, with a secondary code of CRAMAHAF, Cargo & Utility Bike Retail. Its NAICS code is 336991 and its SIC code is 3751.