Bombardier Transportation Austria
Bombardier Transportation Austria is an Austrian rail-manufacturing subsidiary based in Vienna and focused on tram production.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Bombardier Transportation Austria GmbH is an Austrian rail-vehicle manufacturing company headquartered in Vienna. The business represents the rail-focused continuation of a much older industrial enterprise whose origins lie in the wagon and coachbuilding workshop established by Heinrich Lohner in Vienna in 1821. Under the Lohner family, the company developed from a carriage maker serving European royal courts into a diversified manufacturer of automobiles, aircraft, trams, scooters, mopeds and other industrial products. The company became particularly significant in the history of early electric mobility. At the end of the nineteenth century, Ludwig Lohner pursued self-propelled vehicles and engaged Ferdinand Porsche, who designed battery-powered Lohner-Porsche vehicles with electric motors integrated into the front wheel hubs. One of these vehicles was displayed at the 1900 Exposition Universelle in Paris. The Lohner enterprise subsequently produced both electric and petrol-electric vehicles, including designs associated with military and municipal applications. Porsche left the company in 1905, but the engineering work conducted at Lohner formed an important early chapter in electric-vehicle development. Lohner also entered aircraft production in 1909. During and around the First World War, it built reconnaissance aircraft, flying boats and other aircraft for military customers, including the Austro-Hungarian armed forces and the Austrian naval aviation service. After the First World War, the company withdrew from aircraft manufacturing and shifted toward tram construction and coachbodies. The interwar period was difficult, and the Floridsdorf factory was closed during the Great Depression. During the Second World War, the company was involved in aircraft-related production, including aircraft wings, and its plant suffered damage in 1944. After the war, the enterprise was placed under public administration before being returned to the Lohner family in 1949. It then diversified again, producing scooters and mopeds powered by engines supplied by Rotax. Models such as the L125, L98 and Sissy became associated with the post-war product range, although the growing popularity of automobiles eventually weakened the scooter business. Lohner merged with Rotax in 1959. The combined business manufactured a variety of products during the 1960s, including agricultural equipment and military hardware, and produced Bombardier Ski-Doo snowmobiles under licence from 1966 to 1970. In 1970, Bombardier acquired a controlling interest and renamed the business Bombardier-Rotax GmbH. The Austrian operation was later reorganized within Bombardier's rail activities as Bombardier Wien Schienenfahrzeuge, commonly abbreviated BWS. Following Bombardier's acquisition of Adtranz in 2001, the Vienna operation was assigned a role in rail-carbody manufacturing and specialized in light-rail vehicles. Its activities increasingly centered on trams. The company moved to a specialized plant in Vienna's Donaustadt district in 2007. By 2012, it operated as Bombardier Transportation Austria GmbH & Co. KG and was described as manufacturing trams. The available reference material does not establish its current legal status, ownership after Bombardier's transportation business changes, current product programs, or executive leadership. Its documented industrial identity is therefore best understood as a Vienna-based tram and rail-vehicle manufacturing operation descended from the Lohner industrial company.
History
The enterprise's history begins in Vienna in 1821, when Heinrich Lohner established a wagonmaking workshop. In 1823 he formed Laurenzi & Lohner with saddlemaker Ludwig Laurenzi. After Laurenzi's death, the business became Jacob Lohner & Co. under Heinrich's son Jacob Lohner. Jacob expanded the workshop into a factory capable of producing hundreds of vehicles annually and secured prestigious customers, including European royal courts and the Austrian imperial household. Ludwig Lohner took over in 1887 and began repositioning the company toward motorized transport. He worked with Béla Egger and recruited Ferdinand Porsche in 1898. Porsche developed a series of battery-electric and petrol-electric vehicles, including the Lohner-Porsche chaise, whose front-wheel hub motors were an early example of electric drive integration. A vehicle was shown at the 1900 Paris Exposition. Other Lohner-Porsche designs were supplied for military and emergency-service applications. Porsche departed in 1905. In 1909 the company entered aircraft manufacturing. Its output included reconnaissance aircraft for the Austro-Hungarian military during the First World War and flying boats used for patrol duties. Lohner aircraft designs were also connected with later Italian and Spanish military aviation. After the war, the company abandoned aircraft production and concentrated on trams, coachbodies and related manufacturing. Economic difficulties culminated in the closure of the Floridsdorf factory during the Great Depression. The company again produced aircraft-related components during the period of German rule and sustained wartime damage to its plant in 1944. After 1945 it was placed under public administration, returning to the Lohner family's control in 1949. The post-war business resumed tram production and added scooters and mopeds using Rotax engines. The L125, L98 and Sissy were among the better-known products in this period. As private automobile ownership expanded, scooter sales declined. Lohner merged with Rotax in 1959. During the 1960s the combined operation produced agricultural machinery, military equipment and other industrial goods, while also manufacturing Bombardier Ski-Doo snowmobiles under licence. Bombardier acquired a majority stake in 1970 and renamed the business Bombardier-Rotax GmbH. The operation was later reorganized as Bombardier Wien Schienenfahrzeuge, reflecting its increasing emphasis on rail manufacturing. Bombardier's acquisition of Adtranz in 2001 changed the role of the Austrian operation within the wider group. The Vienna works were designated for rail-carbody manufacturing and developed a specialization in light-rail vehicles. A move to a purpose-built facility in Vienna's Donaustadt district was completed in 2007. By 2012 the business operated under the name Bombardier Transportation Austria GmbH & Co. KG and was described as producing trams. The supplied sources do not provide enough information to confirm later legal changes, current facilities, current leadership or the precise status of the operation after subsequent changes to Bombardier's transportation business.
- 2007
Move to a specialized Donaustadt plant
[1]The company relocates to a specialized factory in Vienna's Donaustadt district.
- 2001
The operation is repositioned after Bombardier's Adtranz acquisition
[1]Following Bombardier's acquisition of Adtranz, the Vienna works are assigned a stronger role in rail-carbody production and light-rail vehicles.
- 1970
Bombardier acquires control
[1]Bombardier purchases a controlling share and renames the company Bombardier-Rotax GmbH.
- 1959
Lohner merges with Rotax
[1]The company merges with Rotax, its engine supplier for scooters and mopeds, creating a broader industrial business.
- 1949
Control returns to the Lohner family
[1]After a period of post-war public administration, the company returns to the control of the Lohner family.
- 1909
Aircraft production begins
[1]Lohner expands into aircraft manufacturing, later producing military aircraft and flying boats.
- 1900
Lohner-Porsche electric vehicle is exhibited in Paris
[1]A Lohner-Porsche electric vehicle is presented at the Exposition Universelle in Paris, bringing international attention to the company's early electric-vehicle engineering.
- 1898
Ferdinand Porsche joins the Lohner enterprise
[1]Ludwig Lohner hires Ferdinand Porsche to work on self-propelled vehicles and electric-drive systems.
- 1823
Laurenzi & Lohner partnership is formed
[1]Heinrich Lohner forms a joint business with saddlemaker Ludwig Laurenzi, laying the foundation for the Lohner manufacturing enterprise.
- 1821
Heinrich Lohner establishes a Vienna wagonmaking workshop
[1]The industrial lineage later associated with Bombardier Transportation Austria begins with Heinrich Lohner's wagon and coachbuilding workshop in Vienna.
Products and positioning
A Vienna-based rail-manufacturing operation with roots in Austrian coachbuilding and early electric-vehicle engineering, later specializing in trams and light-rail vehicle production.
Rail vehicles
Trams
Trams became the principal documented product of the Austrian operation after its transition from the diversified Lohner industrial business into Bombardier's rail division. The Vienna works were described as manufacturing trams by 2012, following their specialization in rail-carbody and light-rail vehicle production.
Rail vehicles · 2001
Light-rail vehicles
After Bombardier's acquisition of Adtranz, the Vienna operation was designated for carbody production and specialized in light-rail vehicles. The available reference does not identify specific model names or customer fleets.
Electric automobiles · 1900
Lohner-Porsche electric vehicles
Developed around 1900 with Ferdinand Porsche, these vehicles used battery power and electric motors mounted in the front wheel hubs. They are historically important examples of early electric-vehicle engineering rather than current Bombardier Transportation Austria products.
Scooters and mopeds · 1949
Lohner scooters and mopeds
Beginning in 1949, Lohner produced scooters and mopeds using Rotax engines. The range included models such as the L125, L98 and Sissy before the business was weakened by the increasing popularity of automobiles.
Brand decisions
2001
Vienna works are focused on rail-carbody and light-rail productionStrategyBackground
Bombardier's acquisition of Adtranz led to a reallocation of manufacturing roles within the enlarged transportation group.
Action taken
The Vienna operation was designated for carbody production and specialized in light-rail vehicles.
Aftermath
The site became increasingly associated with tram manufacturing rather than the broader mix of historical Lohner products.
1970
Bombardier takes a controlling interestM&ABackground
The Lohner-Rotax business had diversified across vehicles, engines and industrial products, while Bombardier was expanding its manufacturing interests.
Action taken
Bombardier acquired a majority share and renamed the company Bombardier-Rotax GmbH.
Aftermath
The Austrian operation eventually became part of Bombardier's transportation structure and developed a rail-vehicle specialization.
Sources1 sources
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