The BENTELER Group has announced its acquisition of ioki GmbH from Deutsche Bahn, a move set to reshape the autonomous mobility landscape in Europe. This strategic transaction unites vehicle manufacturing, advanced software, and operational services under one umbrella, creating the continent's first comprehensive, single-source provider for autonomous transport solutions. The deal promises to accelerate the deployment of autonomous fleets for cities and public transport operators.
A Trifecta of Mobility Expertise
The new alliance forms a powerful trio consisting of HOLON, ioki, and Benteler Mobility, each contributing a critical component to the ecosystem. HOLON, an OEM for autonomous movers, will manufacture the HOLON urban shuttle, providing the physical hardware for the fleets. This expertise in vehicle production forms the foundation of the new integrated offering, ensuring a seamless connection between the vehicle and its operating system.
Complementing the hardware, ioki brings its leading European software platform for on-demand services and public transport integration to the partnership. Its sophisticated routing technology and data-driven analytics have already served nearly 10 million passengers across over 200 transport services. This software intelligence is crucial for optimizing fleet performance, planning routes, and ensuring efficient service delivery in complex urban environments.
The final piece of the puzzle is provided by Benteler Mobility, which will manage the operational side of the business. This includes a full suite of services such as vehicle acquisition, asset financing, fleet maintenance, and day-to-day operations management. By handling these logistical complexities, Benteler Mobility allows clients to focus on service delivery rather than the intricacies of fleet management.
Streamlining the Path to Autonomous Public Transit
This integrated approach is designed to radically simplify the adoption of autonomous mobility for municipalities and transport agencies. Instead of sourcing vehicles, software, and operational support from multiple vendors, clients can now access a turnkey solution from a single European entity. This consolidation significantly reduces complexity and lowers the barrier to entry for implementing next-generation public transport systems.
According to Ralf Göttel, CEO of the BENTELER Group, this unique model represents a strategic evolution for the company beyond its core metal processing business. He emphasized that the all-in-one offering will make deploying and operating autonomous vehicles far more straightforward for customers. The synergy allows for data-driven simulations by ioki to identify ideal use cases for HOLON shuttles, enhancing existing transit networks.
Global Ambitions and a Shared Vision
The acquisition unlocks significant growth opportunities, particularly for ioki, which has primarily operated within Europe until now. Michael Barillère-Scholz, ioki's co-founder and CEO, noted that joining the BENTELER Group provides the global reach needed to scale their software and analytics products internationally. ioki will maintain its vehicle-agnostic approach while continuing to develop its successful driver-based ride-pooling solutions for a smooth transition.
The leadership teams of HOLON and Benteler Mobility echoed this forward-looking sentiment, highlighting a shared vision to make sustainable mobility simple, safe, and accessible to all. They position the combined entity as the leading partner for cities and operators undertaking this technological transformation. The collaboration is already underway with joint projects that will serve as blueprints for the integrated solution.
The BENTELER Group's acquisition of ioki is a landmark development, creating a vertically integrated powerhouse in the autonomous mobility sector. By merging state-of-the-art vehicle manufacturing, proven software platforms, and comprehensive operational services, this new alliance is poised to overcome key hurdles to widespread adoption. This strategic consolidation not only strengthens Europe's position in the global market but also offers a clear, viable path for the future of public transportation.