Palladio Partners invests in hylane

Palladio Partners has made a substantial equity investment in hylane GmbH (hylane), one of Europe’s leading providers of zero-emission truck leasing solutions. As part of a capital increase, Palladio Partners will assume majority voting rights in key areas. The
agreement was signed with DEVK and hylane. DEVK, which founded hylane in 2021, previously held 100% of the shares. With this transaction, DEVK and Palladio Partners become joint venture partners. Over the coming years, Palladio Partners intends to
support hylane’s growth through additional investments, further increasing its equity stake. This partnership will enable hylane to expand its zero -emission truck fleet with a total investment volume in the hundreds of millions of euros.

Decarbonizing Transport: A Critical Lever for Climate Targets

“hylane’s zero-emission fleet plays a pivotal role in transforming the transport sector and achieving Germany’s climate objectives,” said Steffen Reeser, Partner at Palladio Partners. “The fund from which we are investing is dedicated to driving sustainable economic transformation through targeted infrastructure investments. Our stake in hylane is a highly complementary addition to our German direct investment portfolio, and we look forward to working together.”

Jesko Mayer-Wegelin of DEVK added: “We are at an inflection point: technological advances in battery-electric trucks are fueling a surge in customer demand – the market is booming. We are delighted to welcome a partner that brings not only long-term capital but also deep expertise in German infrastructure and a strong industrial network. Together, we aim to capture this momentum.”

hylane: From Start-Up to Strategic Partner in Under Five Years

hylane offers hydrogen - and battery-powered trucks under a usage-based leasing model that includes vehicle registration, maintenance, repair, insurance, access to energy infrastructure, and certified CO₂ reporting. The company partners with leading
OEMs such as Daimler, MAN, Hyundai, and Iveco, and serves major logistics operators including DHL, DB Schenker, DSV, and Hermes, as well as industrial and retail leaders like Bosch, REWE, and Lidl.

Regulatory Tailwinds: EU Targets a Fully Zero-Emission Truck Fleet by 2050

The European commercial vehicle sector is undergoing a regulatory and technology-driven transition toward zero-emission propulsion. EU and national mandates call for a fully zero-emission truck fleet by 2050, with market penetration expected to reach
~20% by 2030 and ~45% by 2035. Leasing models already account for roughly two-thirds of new registrations and are even more prevalent for zero -emission trucks than for conventional diesel vehicles.

hylane welcomes investment and launches next growth phase with new leadership structure

“The fact that Germany’s largest independent infrastructure investor believes in our business model and will support our expansion confirms we are on the right track,” said Sara Schiffer, Managing Director of hylane. Co-Managing Director Maximilian Draxler added: “With two strong partners behind us, we can now leverage accelerating market dynamics to scale our fleet, enhance our service offering, and expand internationally.” 

Sara Schiffer and Maximilian Draxler will jointly lead hylane going forward. Bernd Zens, who played a key role in building the company, will step down from management at the end of 2025 to pursue other entrepreneurial ventures. “The entry of Palladio
Partners marks a major milestone, making my transition easier. I remain convinced of the future of zero-emission mobility,” Zens commented.

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About Palladio Partners
Palladio Partners is a leading investment boutique for private markets.

An owner-managed specialist in the asset classes of infrastructure investments, private equity and private debt, it was founded in Frankfurt in 2012. Today, with its payroll of around 100 staff members, it has assets of approximately EUR 10 billion under management (including investment advisory mandates). Palladio Partners administers its own funds and advises investors on realizing their individual investment strategies, offering access to attractive investment opportunities in Germany and globally.

Palladio Partners is enduringly committed to German infrastructure – through investments and its active participation in associations such as “IDI - Initiative deutsche Infrastruktur e.V.” It is a signatory to the UN Principles for Responsible Investment (UN PRI).

For further information, please visit www.palladio-partners.com

About hylane
hylane is one of the leading providers of zero-emission trucks in Europe. The company was founded in 2021 as Germany's first zero-emission commercial vehicle rental company - with the aim of helping companies decarbonize their truck fleets. hylane provides battery and hydrogen-powered vehicles from various manufacturers in a comprehensive, usage-based rental model; users only pay for the kilometres they drive. hylane takes care of vehicle procurement and registration, maintenance and repair, insurance, access to energy supply and the management of regulatory requirements, including CO₂ verification. Thanks to hylane, the switch to climate friendly trucks is not only efficient and economical, but also easier. Leading fleet operators from logistics, trade and industry are already relying on hylane as a strategic partner for the decarbonization of their fleets. – including DHL, DB Schenker, DSV Hermes and REWE.

About DEVK
The best feeling is when nothing happens. But if something does happen, DEVK helps quickly and on a personal level. Founded almost 140 years ago by railwaymen for railwaymen, around 7,500 people in the office and in the field roll up their sleeves today. They take care of the concerns of around 4.2 million customers throughout Germany. Of these, 577,000 are members, i.e. employees in the transport industry and their families. In total, DEVK insures more than 15 million risks in all lines of business. In terms of the number of policies, it is Germany’s fourth-largest household contents insurer, fifth-largest car insurer and sixth-largest liability insurer.