Virtual Vehicle

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.

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

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

• Virtual vehicle development
• Automotive simulation services
• Battery testing laboratories
• Rail system modeling
• Digital twin engineering

Headquarters

HQ city

Graz

HQ country

Austria

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core 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

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability7 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

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

• Graz University of Technology (TU Graz)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey 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 GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeading 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 AGmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSemiconductor 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 GmbHmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRail 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 MobilitymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVP 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 AGmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAutomotive contract manufacturer and engineering partner providing vehicle development expertise in the VIRTUAL VEHICLE partner network.
• BoschmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAutomotive technology supplier and member of the VIRTUAL VEHICLE partner network contributing automotive engineering expertise.
• JOANNEUM RESEARCHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAustrian 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 LabsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch institute for electronic based systems and member of the VIRTUAL VEHICLE partner network.
• SalzburgAGminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional energy and mobility provider partner in the VIRTUAL VEHICLE network.
• PJM MesstechnikminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMeasurement technology company specializing in pantograph and catenary interaction analysis, presented at Forum Schiene event.
• FH JoanneumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity of Applied Sciences and member of the VIRTUAL VEHICLE partner network.
• ÖBB-Infrastruktur AGmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAustrian Federal Railways infrastructure operator. Presented on resilience management for railway infrastructure at Forum Schiene event. Active in rail research projects.
• KRONEmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustrial 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 AGmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSwiss rail consulting company and consortium partner in the FFI Opt meter-gauge railway project. Collaborated on vehicle-track interaction simulation methodology.
• Stadler Bussnang AGmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSwiss rail vehicle manufacturer and consortium partner in the FFI Opt meter-gauge railway project for vehicle-track interaction analysis.
• Lucchini RS S.p.A.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerItalian rail wheel and track component manufacturer and consortium partner in the FFI Opt meter-gauge railway project.
• Hochschule OsnabrückminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGerman university of applied sciences and consortium partner in the EDNA project.
• Jade HochschuleminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGerman university of applied sciences and consortium partner in the EDNA project.
• OFFIS e.V. - Institut für InformatikminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGerman computer science research institute and consortium partner in the EDNA project.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct 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

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@virtual_vehicle_research
• Facebookfacebook.com/Virtual.Vehicle
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/virtual-vehicle-research-gmbh
• Instagraminstagram.com/virtual_vehicle

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Virtual Vehicle