As far as its coach products are concerned, it is “business as usual” for Belgian manufacturer Van Hool, according to Darren Dowsett, who spoke to T&BB in his capacity as managing director of VDL Bus & Coach UK at the Euro Bus Expo.

In the future, the former Van Hool facility will produce stainless steel tankers, whereas GRW will produce aluminium products at its own facilities, said GRW CEO Gerhard van der Merwe.

In a press release announcing its half-year results, VDL Groep stated its intention to “strengthen” its bus and coach subsidiary through North American access and the acquisition of Van Hool’s factory in North Macedonia, where it produced vehicles for the NA market.

Production of Van Hool semi-trailers – which include tankers, container chassis, and flatbeds as well as conventional box and curtainsided trailers – resumed on 29 April following the intervention of GRW, together with VDL Groep, to take over the company.

No further details have been announced, except that the two partners will initially keep between 650 and 950 Van Hool workers in employment.

The manufacturer has said that "an inheritance dispute" among shareholders and the Van Hool family "has complicated the planned actions"; the implementation of its recovery plan "in a business continuity situation is no longer viable”.

Inflation, higher energy costs, supply chain disruptions, and the continuing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the company’s finances were cited as reasons behind the decision to slash the company workforce.

The decline in demand for coaches and the higher cost of raw materials had a “major impact” on the company’s finances, which are only just beginning to recover.

Van Hool will supply 54 units of the ‘A15LE E’ line of buses which are powered by two ZF ‘Axtrax’ wheel hub motors (2 x 140kW) and Akasol batteries providing up to 686 kWh energy capacity.

ABC offers two electric coach models, the Van Hool CX45E triaxle single high deck model and TDX25E triaxle double deck coach.

Simply called ‘Van Hool T’, the new range, which offers improvements in aerodynamics, design, comfort, and safety, will replace the current ‘T9’ and ‘TX’ series of touring coaches for the European market.

Van Hool still plans to build transit buses in the USA.