Virtual Vehicle
Virtual Vehicle Research GmbH is a Graz-based applied research center (~300 staff) developing virtual vehicle development methods, simulation, digital twins, and embedded AI for automotive, rail, energy, maritime, defense, and health technology industries, funded through Austria's COMET program and 44 industry and science partners.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- HeadquartersGraz, Austria
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Virtual Vehicle does
Virtual Vehicle Research GmbH is an Austrian applied research center headquartered in Graz that develops virtual vehicle development methods combining multi-physics simulation, digital twins, and model-based systems engineering for the automotive, rail, energy, maritime, defense, and health technology sectors. Its technical portfolio spans simulation platforms, predictive analytics, embedded AI for in-vehicle systems, and proprietary sensor development — including the OCULAS TDLAS gas measurement sensor and a granted UK patent (GB2619557A) on battery cell expansion measurement. The center operates applied machine learning on industrial-scale data assets, most notably predictive route and maintenance analytics deployed across KRONE's 10,000-trailer fleet.
The business model is structured as a public-private research partnership under Austria's COMET (Competence Centers for Excellent Technologies) program, administered through FFG and the Federal Ministry of Climate Action (BMK), with co-funding from 44 industry and science partners including KRONE, RAILplus, voestalpine, Stadler, Lucchini, AVL, Infineon, Magna, Bosch, Siemens, and TU Graz. Revenue mechanics combine federal and state subsidies with contract research across more than 80 active projects, conference leadership (e.g., the 14th International Conference on Automotive User Interfaces), and IP licensing. Leadership is anchored by CEO Jost Bernasch and CTO Daniel Watzenig, and the organization operates across Austria, Germany, and Switzerland with a headcount of approximately 300 researchers and engineers.
A new COMET SDM (Software-defined Mobility) center with EUR 24M planned research volume is scheduled to launch in January 2027, extending the funding runway and shifting emphasis toward software-defined vehicle architectures. This, combined with vertical diversification into maritime, defense, and health technology, signals an intentional broadening of addressable markets beyond traditional automotive OEM R&D budgets while preserving the COMET-anchored research-center business model.
Virtual Vehicle firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Virtual Vehicle
- Legal name
- Virtual Vehicle Research GmbH
- Website
- https://virtual-vehicle.at
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- Virtual Vehicle Research GmbH is a Graz-based applied research center (~300 staff) developing virtual vehicle development methods, simulation, digital twins, and embedded AI for automotive, rail, energy, maritime, defense, and health technology industries, funded through Austria's COMET program and 44 industry and science partners.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Virtual Vehicle industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Automotive Engineering Research Services
- SIC
- Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Services-Testing Laboratories (8734)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Modeling, Simulation, Digital Twins & Mission Rehearsal Systems (IMABAOAL)
Keywords
Where Virtual Vehicle is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Graz
- HQ country
- Austria
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Virtual Vehicle business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Publicly Funded Research (COMET K2): VIRTUAL VEHICLE operates as a COMET K2 Competence Center for Excellent Technologies, funded by the Austrian Federal Ministry for Innovation, Mobility and Infrastructure (BMIMI), Austrian Federal Ministry for Economy, Energy and Tourism (BMWET), Province of Styria, and Styrian Business Promotion Agency (SFG). The Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG) manages the programme. The center coordinates EU projects and participates in European and nationally funded flagship projects.
- Contract Research Services: Industry partners engage VIRTUAL VEHICLE for contract research services. The center offers test benches and research services including battery testing, simulation, and validation services for automotive, rail, energy, health tech, maritime, and defense sectors.
- Event Organization and Conferences: The center organizes and hosts major conferences including ISNVH (International Styrian Noise, Vibration and Harshness Congress), GSVF (Graz Smart Vehicle Forum), GritLab, and PhD Days, generating revenue through conference fees and ticket sales.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Contract research and testing services |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels7 records
Virtual Vehicle product offering
Product offeringCore offering
VIRTUAL VEHICLE delivers applied research and development services for virtual vehicle systems, combining multi-physics simulation, artificial intelligence, digital twins, and model-based development. It operates physical test benches for battery, thermal, and gas measurements, and runs multi-year COMET-funded research programs together with contract research for automotive, rail, energy, health tech, maritime, and defense industry partners.
Product overview
VIRTUAL VEHICLE is a research center (not a commercial product company) offering simulation, validation, and testing services for mobility and technology applications. The core offering encompasses virtual development and validation services using simulation, AI, digital twins, and model-based development. Supporting services include physical test benches (Cooling Lab, battery testing with dilatometry, OCULAS gas measurement), research programs (COMET K2, COMET SDM), and conference organization. The portfolio spans automotive, rail, energy, health tech, maritime, and defense sectors, unified by expertise in system simulation, continuous integration, and virtual validation.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Virtual Development, Validation & Operation Services
Quantifiable outcome
- COMET SDM center with EUR 24 million planned research volume and 44 partners
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Virtual Vehicle
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Virtual Vehicle technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability7 records
Feature4 records
Virtual Vehicle partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
20 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- Graz University of Technology (TU Graz)coreKey research and academic partner hosting VIRTUAL VEHICLE systems. Joint supervision of PhD programs with over 40 doctoral dissertations completed in five years. Partner in COMET SDM center with approximately 60 researchers. TU Graz Rector Horst Bischof serves on the COMET SDM advisory board.
- AVL List GmbHcoreLeading automotive simulation and testing company. CEO Helmut List serves as Supervisory Board Chairman. AVL supports the COMET SDM center as a key industry partner providing automotive engineering expertise.
- Infineon Technologies Austria AGmajorSemiconductor manufacturer and key partner in software-defined mobility research. Deputy CTO Stefan Rohringer highlights VIRTUAL VEHICLE's role in connecting industry partners and facilitating joint research projects along the value chain.
- voestalpine Railway Systems GmbHmajorRail infrastructure and systems company. CTO Franz Sodia emphasizes importance of digital twins, AI diagnostics, and cross-system optimization for railway capacity, reliability, and efficiency. Active in rail simulation and meter-gauge railway projects.
- Siemens MobilitymajorVP Bogies & Panto Stefan Erlach highlights that simulation and interdisciplinary research are critical enablers for digitalization and automation of rail transport. Partner in COMET SDM center.
- Magna Steyr Fahrzeugtechnik AGmajorAutomotive contract manufacturer and engineering partner providing vehicle development expertise in the VIRTUAL VEHICLE partner network.
- BoschmajorAutomotive technology supplier and member of the VIRTUAL VEHICLE partner network contributing automotive engineering expertise.
- JOANNEUM RESEARCHcoreAustrian applied research institute. CEO Heinz Mayer emphasizes VIRTUAL VEHICLE's central role in the Styrian research landscape and the formation of a powerful research alliance combining complementary competencies. Partner in COMET SDM center.
- SAL - Silicon Austria LabsmajorResearch institute for electronic based systems and member of the VIRTUAL VEHICLE partner network.
- SalzburgAGminorRegional energy and mobility provider partner in the VIRTUAL VEHICLE network.
- PJM MesstechnikminorMeasurement technology company specializing in pantograph and catenary interaction analysis, presented at Forum Schiene event.
- FH JoanneumminorUniversity of Applied Sciences and member of the VIRTUAL VEHICLE partner network.
- ÖBB-Infrastruktur AGmajorAustrian Federal Railways infrastructure operator. Presented on resilience management for railway infrastructure at Forum Schiene event. Active in rail research projects.
- KRONEmajorIndustrial partner in the EDNA project developing edge computing and digital twin technologies for truck trailers. KRONE Business Center GmbH & Co. KG collaborated on real-time emissions assessment and predictive route optimization.
- RAILplus AGmajorSwiss rail consulting company and consortium partner in the FFI Opt meter-gauge railway project. Collaborated on vehicle-track interaction simulation methodology.
- Stadler Bussnang AGmajorSwiss rail vehicle manufacturer and consortium partner in the FFI Opt meter-gauge railway project for vehicle-track interaction analysis.
- Lucchini RS S.p.A.minorItalian rail wheel and track component manufacturer and consortium partner in the FFI Opt meter-gauge railway project.
- Hochschule OsnabrückminorGerman university of applied sciences and consortium partner in the EDNA project.
- Jade HochschuleminorGerman university of applied sciences and consortium partner in the EDNA project.
- OFFIS e.V. - Institut für InformatikminorGerman computer science research institute and consortium partner in the EDNA project.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Virtual Vehicle competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- AVL List GmbH: Direct peer in vehicle powertrain and system simulation, virtual development, and testing services for automotive and mobility OEMs. AVL is also a strategic partner of Virtual Vehicle (AVL CEO chairs the Supervisory Board), but the core service offering — simulation-led vehicle development — is directly comparable.
- IAV GmbH: Automotive engineering services firm providing powertrain, vehicle electronics, and virtual development services to OEMs and Tier-1 suppliers. Closely comparable in offering simulation, testing, and digital-twin-driven development across automotive and adjacent mobility verticals.
- Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft: Germany's largest applied research organization with multiple institutes focused on automotive, production, and mobility simulation and testing. Closest structural peer to Virtual Vehicle as a publicly funded, industry-collaboration-driven applied research center for vehicle technologies.
- FEV Group GmbH: Germany-headquartered engineering services provider offering vehicle development, powertrain calibration, simulation, and virtual validation to global OEMs. Directly comparable on the simulation-first vehicle development service model and Tier-1 customer base.
- JOANNEUM RESEARCH: Austrian applied research institute and core COMET SDM partner of Virtual Vehicle. Comparable operating model (publicly funded, multi-disciplinary applied research with industry contract work) and overlapping research scope in mobility-related materials, energy, and digital systems.
- KIT (Karlsruhe Institute of Technology): German research university with strong mobility, automotive, and battery research programs operating at similar scale to Virtual Vehicle. Comparable on the publicly funded research model combined with industry contract research, though without Virtual Vehicle's pure-play focus on virtual vehicle development.
- TNO (Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research): Dutch publicly funded applied research organization with significant mobility, automotive, and energy programs, including vehicle simulation and battery research. Closely comparable operating model: public funding base combined with contract research for industry partners.
Emerging players
- HORIBA Group: Test and measurement equipment supplier serving automotive, energy, and mobility testing markets, including battery and emissions test benches. Adjacent player with overlapping battery testing and measurement offering versus Virtual Vehicle's BATTCAVE and OCULAS capabilities.
Broad incumbents
- Siemens Mobility: Global rail technology and infrastructure provider with significant in-house simulation and digital twin capabilities for rolling stock and rail systems. Both a Virtual Vehicle partner and a competitor for rail simulation contracts at much larger enterprise scale.
- Robert Bosch GmbH (Bosch Engineering): Global Tier-1 automotive supplier with in-house simulation, virtual validation, and software-defined vehicle capabilities. Overlaps with Virtual Vehicle's automotive work but operates at much larger scale across a broader portfolio and is both a customer and partner.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Virtual Vehicle social profiles
Digital presenceVirtual Vehicle financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Virtual Vehicle leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
Virtual Vehicle funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Virtual Vehicle 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 Virtual Vehicle
What does Virtual Vehicle do?
VIRTUAL VEHICLE delivers applied research and development services for virtual vehicle systems, combining multi-physics simulation, artificial intelligence, digital twins, and model-based development. It operates physical test benches for battery, thermal, and gas measurements, and runs multi-year COMET-funded research programs together with contract research for automotive, rail, energy, health tech, maritime, and defense industry partners.
Is Virtual Vehicle a public or private company?
Virtual Vehicle is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was Virtual Vehicle founded?
Virtual Vehicle was founded in -1.
Where is Virtual Vehicle based?
Virtual Vehicle is headquartered in Graz, Austria, in the Europe region.
How does Virtual Vehicle make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Publicly Funded Research (COMET K2) is the primary driver. The others are contract Research Services and event Organization and Conferences.
Who are Virtual Vehicle's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are AVL List GmbH, IAV GmbH, Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, FEV Group GmbH, JOANNEUM RESEARCH, KIT (Karlsruhe Institute of Technology) and TNO (Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research). HORIBA Group is listed as an emerging player. Broad incumbents are Siemens Mobility and Robert Bosch GmbH (Bosch Engineering).
Does Virtual Vehicle have an API?
No public API is recorded for Virtual Vehicle.
What industry is Virtual Vehicle in?
Virtual Vehicle's product category is Automotive Engineering Research Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMABAOAL, Modeling, Simulation, Digital Twins & Mission Rehearsal Systems. Its SIC code is 7373.