Bahn Express secures €5 million for Europe-wide expansion

The Finnish car logistics provider Bahn Express has closed a €5 million financing round. The company intends to use the capital to expand its presence in key European markets and at the same time strengthen its staff in Helsinki. The round was led by Swedish fund Node Ventures, accompanied by existing investors Trind VC, Innovestor and a group of experienced angel investors.

Focus on fast vehicle transportation instead of sluggish truck logistics

Bahn Express is one of the fastest growing Finnish scale-ups and is challenging the established logistics model of the automotive industry with its platform. It usually takes 10 to 30 days for a vehicle to be transported from A to B. This is often because trucks first have to be fully loaded or pass through several hubs.

In contrast, the company relies on a network of hundreds of local freelance drivers who bring vehicles directly to their destination. This reduces the transportation time for used vehicles, lease returns or one-way rentals to 2 to 5 days. Dealers and fleet managers can book transports via the platform with just a few clicks, add additional services such as quality checks and track the status in real time.

Economic relevance for dealers, rental companies and leasing companies

Long transportation times cause high costs for car dealerships, rental companies and leasing companies every year. It can take up to 40 days for an ordered vehicle to be ready for use. A period of time in which it generates no turnover and ties up capital. According to Bahn Express, the new model can save several hundred euros per vehicle, while at the same time improving stock turnover by up to 30 percent.

The solution also has advantages for end customers, such as shorter waiting times between ordering and delivery as well as more transparent communication along the supply chain.

Investors rely on a Europe-wide logistics network

The investors see great scaling potential in the company's approach. The European market for vehicle logistics has a volume of around €7 billion and has so far been heavily dominated by traditional truck transportation companies. International services across national borders are comparatively rare.

The combination of discipline, speed and customer focus is reflected in the exceptional implementation. The platform is ideally positioned to expand faster than the competition.

Node Ventures partner Daniela Sjunnesson

Expansion in Germany, Poland and Denmark as a first step

Bahn Express plans to use the fresh capital to set up local teams in Germany, Poland and Denmark. The company is deliberately pursuing a local approach, as the requirements of the markets vary greatly. In Germany and Poland, the focus is currently primarily on transportation in the leasing and rental segment, while in Denmark and Finland the focus is on importing new and used vehicles.

If you want to tap into new markets, you have to really understand them. That's why we rely on a local team everywhere that works closely with customers and adapts services accordingly.

Matias Blomberg, CEO Bahn Express

Growth trajectory since foundation

Bahn Express was founded in Helsinki in 2024 by Matias Blomberg and Leevi Jäkälä. Since then, the team has grown to around 30 employees and operates offices in Copenhagen and Berlin in addition to its headquarters in Helsinki. In the long term, the company is pursuing an ambitious vision: to give everyone access to any car, anywhere in Europe and within two days.