Intramotev and Rail Cargo Austria enter into a development joint venture with legal support from Wolf Theiss

Vienna, 27 April 2026 – Wolf Theiss advised Intramotev Inc. on the establishment and implementation of a development joint venture with Rail Cargo Austria AG in connection with the introduction of autonomous freight rail technology in Europe.

Intramotev Inc. is a St. Louis, Missouri‑based technology company founded in 2020 that manufactures autonomous freight railcars. Its technology includes retrofit solutions designed to enable short‑haul independent movements and energy recovery within conventional train consists, with the aim of increasing efficiency and improving flexibility in rail freight logistics, including last‑mile transport.

Rail Cargo Austria AG is a European rail freight and logistics service provider offering integrated transport and logistics solutions across a broad range of goods. As the parent company of Rail Cargo Group, it operates an international network with a presence in 18 countries, including 12 logistics centres and 16 terminals, linking trade routes between Europe and Asia, and is engaged in research and development initiatives aimed at increasing efficiency and automation in rail freight transport.

The joint venture followed a public procurement procedure conducted by Rail Cargo Austria and the relevant agreement was concluded on 30 December 2025. The purpose of the joint venture is to bring Intramotev’s autonomous freight rail technology to Europe, including its adaptation to European rail freight standards and the pursuit of the required regulatory approvals.

During the development phase, existing freight cars will be retrofitted with electric axle motors, batteries, braking systems and advanced sensor technology, including cameras and LiDAR. The system is operated through proprietary software that processes sensor data and coordinates the interaction between the individual technical components.

Wolf Theiss advised Intramotev on all legal aspects of the transaction, including joint venture contractual arrangements, intellectual property matters, with a particular focus on trade secrets, copyright and data as intellectual property, within the framework of European Union data legislation, as well as public procurement and regulatory considerations.

The Wolf Theiss team was led by Partner Christian Hoenig and included Counsel Doris Buxbaum (both Corporate/M&A), Senior Associate Roland Vesenmayer (IP), Senior Associate Johannes Sekanina, Partner Roland Marko (both IT/Data Protection), Senior Associate Dominik Koenig and Partner Manfred Essletzbichler (both Public Procurement).

“Intramotev is introducing a new approach to rail freight that has the potential to change the way short‑haul and last‑mile transport is handled in Europe. Supporting the company on its market entry and cooperation with Rail Cargo Austria was a privilege and reflects the broader push towards innovation and automation in European rail logistics.”

– Christian Hoenig, Partner, Wolf Theiss