Hylane gets a new investor

Palladio Partners is making a substantial investment in the electric truck lessor Hylane as part of a capital increase. The investor is also taking a majority of the voting rights for key areas—and plans to invest a three-digit million-euro amount over the coming years.

Hylane palladio partners sara schiffer — Hylane Managing Director Maximilian Draxler and Sara Schiffer
Image: Hylane

Hylane has signed an agreement with DEVK and Palladio Partners, the German e-truck rental company announced. While DEVK has held 100 per cent of Hylane’s shares since its founding in 2021, this deal will see DEVK and Palladio Partners become joint venture partners. However, the exact amount Palladio Partners is investing in Hylane—or the resulting shareholding structure—has not been disclosed. The only detail provided is: “In the coming years, Palladio Partners will support Hylane’s growth with further investments, thereby expanding its stake in the company’s capital.”

The purpose of the funds, however, is clear: Hylane states that the investment from Palladio Partners will enable it to ‘expand its fleet of zero-emission trucks in the coming years with a total investment volume in the triple-digit millions.’ Originally founded as a rental provider of hydrogen-electric fuel cell trucks, Hylane now also offers battery-electric trucks for rent, including the eActros 600 from Daimler Truck. MAN, Hyundai, and Iveco are also among its vehicle suppliers. Customers include logistics companies such as DHL, DB Schenker, DSV, and Hermes, as well as retail and industrial enterprises like Bosch, REWE, and Lidl.

The investment from Palladio Partners coincides with a change in Hylane’s management: Sara Schiffer and Maximilian Draxler now form the company’s two-person executive team—Draxler joined earlier this year. The third previous managing director, Bernd Zens, who played a key role in building the company alongside his colleagues, will leave the executive team by the end of 2025 by mutual agreement to ‘pursue other entrepreneurial activities,’ as Hylane stated. „With Palladio Partners’ investment, we have reached an important milestone, which makes my departure easier,“ said Zens. “I wish Hylane continued success on its chosen path and remain convinced of the potential of zero-emission mobility.”

„Hylane makes an important contribution to the transformation of the transport sector and thus to achieving Germany’s climate goals with its zero-emission fleet,“ explained Steffen Reeser, Partner at Palladio Partners, regarding the investment. “The fund from which we are investing aims to drive the sustainable transformation of the economy through meaningful infrastructure investments. Our stake in Hylane is therefore a highly fitting addition to our German direct investment portfolio, and we look forward to collaborating.”

“We are currently at an exciting turning point: The technological leap in battery-electric trucks is rapidly driving up customer demand—the market is booming,” says Jesko Mayer-Wegelin of DEVK. “We are therefore delighted to welcome a partner on board who brings not only long-term capital but also deep knowledge of German infrastructure and a strong industrial network. Together, we want to support Hylane in capitalising on this market momentum.”

hylane.de (in German)