VDL Groep acquires parts from Flemish bus manufacturer Van Hool

VDL Groep acquires parts from the Flemish bus manufacturer Van Hool. The industrial family business, based in Eindhoven, adds components from the failed Van Hool in Belgium. On the other hand, VDL takes over Van Hool’s manufacturing facility in North Macedonia. With the acquired parts from Van Hool, VDL Groep aims to further strengthen the activities of its Bus division. The takeover immediately safeguards approximately 1,600 jobs in the high-quality European bus industry. The financial details of the acquisition are not disclosed.

For the Van Hool facility in Koningshooikt (Belgium), approximately 250 Van Hool employees are being recruited to work in areas including component production, aftersales, purchasing, development, and finance. An agreement has been reached with the trade unions regarding the employment conditions. Furthermore, VDL Groep will take over all intellectual property, design rights, software, product names, tools, and machinery from Van Hool, as well as the Van Hool bus factory in North Macedonia, where about 1,350 employees work. VDL has made arrangements with distributor ABC Companies for the supply of Van Hool buses in the United States and Canada. The collaboration with ABC will strengthen both parties in terms of markets and product portfolio.

Added value

President and CEO Willem van der Leegte of VDL Groep: “We are pleased to announce that we have been able to acquire parts of Van Hool. These parts add value to our bus and coach activities, enabling us to further strengthen our position as a bus manufacturer. The strategic partnership with our American partner ABC Companies makes it possible for us to further develop our international operations.”

VDL Groep will not be integrating the acquired activities of Van Hool into its bus and coach operations for the time being.