We are a prominent player in the changing landscape of sustainable mobility. Originally, we started as a supplier of metal and plastic parts for the automotive industry. Since then, our activities have expanded to include the development and production of electric buses and coaches, the electrification of heavier vehicles, and vehicle assembly. In this, we play a leading role in Europe.
At the same time, we focus on ‘smart’ mobility issues, such as design, electrification, connectivity, energy management, autonomous driving, mobility as a service, and battery as a service. We design mobility solutions in-house, making them applicable to other forms of transport. We focus on the following product platforms: coach, public transport, vans, trucks, and automated guided vehicles (AGVs).
Also, we are increasingly developing vehicles as ‘data collectors’, feeding back not only their performance but also their impact on the living environment. In the world of Mobility, our goal is to contribute to a better and cleaner world for future generations through the development and production of smart mobility solutions. Below, we will zoom in more on VDL Groep’s activities in the world of Mobility with regard to vehicle production.
Auto assembly
With the lack of concrete new vehicle projects as yet, at least for the time being, after almost 1.2 million cars produced in Born since 2014, independent car building at VDL Nedcar is coming to an end. Press parts production has also now come to an end. The initial activities of VDL Special Vehicles and the Mobility Innovation Centre (MIC) in Born - the (re)construction of special vehi - cles and the assembly of battery packs - are the first contours of our pursuit of greater independence from market and geopoliti - cal developments, on the one hand, and a stronger earnings model, on the other.
VDL Mobility Innovation Centre
The MIC delivers new and sustainable mobility solutions and aims to be a flexible and expert innovation and industrialisation partner. The MIC will initially focus on the following areas:
- Industrialisation and assembly of battery and energy systems for mobile applications
- Initiatives in new transport concepts such as autonomous vehicles and fuel cell modules
Buses
The long-term outlook offers good prospects. The chosen strategic direction to focus on only electrically powered public transport buses is in line with the continuously growing demand for zero-emission public transport in cities and for regional transport, which is necessary to comply with the proposed EU regulations.
VDL Bus & Coach is also actively involved in innovations, such as autonomous functions and hydrogen as a fuel, which will be required for public transport applications in the coming years, and VDL Bus & Coach is thus preparing itself for the future. With a team of software engineers, developers and testers, VDL Bus & Coach also focuses on ‘smart’ mobility issues, such as connec - tivity, energy management, autonomous driving, mobility as a service and battery as a service, thus relieving customers of concerns and making the transport of the future more sustainable.
VDL Bus & Coach is and proudly remains an important player in the European high-end manufacturing industry, a premium brand that creates tomorrow’s sustainable mobility solutions today through our strength through cooperation.
Specials VDL
Special Vehicles specialises in the electrification of medium- and heavy-duty vehicles and building hydrogen trucks. From 1 July 2023, a division of VDL Special Vehicles from Eindhoven will merge with VDL Bus Venlo and focus on the following activities:
- emergency response vehicles
- contract manufacturing
- zero-emission vehicles
Driven by innovations, VDL Bus Venlo delivers smarter mobility solutions for on and off-road vehicles.
The year 2024 will be the year of the integration of two different business processes at the new company site in Born. Through this merger and relocation, VDL Special Vehicles will further develop at the Born site into a specialist in
- vehicle bodywork and conversion
- electrification of heavier vehicles
- autonomous driving
- contract manufacturing
To compensate for production stagnations, other activities have been attracting, such as the assembly of hooklifts for VDL Container Systems. Experience with a number of electric projects has made VDL Translift a forerunner in zero-emission waste collection.
The ambition to be at the forefront of developments around key themes in the (heavy-duty and NRMM) automotive industry remains a strong driver for innovation within VDL. In recent years, these developments have led to a leading position for VDL Bus & Coach in the European market for electric and hybrid buses and collaborations with major OEMs in terms of development and (contract) manufacturing within VDL Groep.
This article was previously published in the RAI Automotive Industry Magazine about the Dutch automotive industry. Want to read more?
