Lohner: Austrian innovation in cars, planes and engines

Lohner is a historic Austrian brand with a rich heritage in car, aircraft and motorbike production. It all began in Vienna, where Jacob Lohner, originally a coachbuilder, founded his company in the 19th century. Lohner was already well known as a manufacturer of railway and tramway equipment, with many of the trains and trams in Austria and Vienna coming from his workshop.

In 1899, Jacob's son Ludwig Lohner, together with the visionary engineer Ferdinand Porsche an important step in the history of the car industry. They built a hybrid car: a vehicle powered by both a petrol engine and an electric motor, which was progressive for the time. This pioneering work in the world of hybrid vehicles marked the beginning of a period of technological innovation for Lohner.

After World War II, Lohner expanded its product line to motorbikes and scooters, equipped with Rotax-Sachs engines from 98 and 123 cc and later 197 cc ILO engines. These scooters were partly under the name Rapid sold, but production stopped between 1960 and 1965.

In the 1960s, Lohner acquired Rotax, a move that eventually led to the acquisition of both companies by Canada's Bombardier in 1970. Bombardier focused on rail vehicle production from then on, and the plant continued under the name "Bombardier Wien Schienenfahrzeuge". Today, modern rail vehicles such as the Cityrunner and Flexity Swift produced.

Lohner's history reflects a rich tradition of Austrian innovation and technological progress, from hybrid cars and motorbikes to modern rail vehicles. It is a brand that has stood the test of time and found its place in the world of both motor vehicles and rail transport.