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.

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

Pinnacle Mobility, which sells vehicles under the brand name, EKA Mobility, is an electric bus as well as a light and medium-duty electric truck builder.

The iron foundry in Heerlen, operated by subsidiary company ‘VDL Castings Heerlen’, produces cast-iron parts for multiple sectors, including the truck industry.

In the Dutch city of Eindhoven, there remains one of those odd survivals of the former industrial age, now largely superseded by the digital revolution: the privately owned diversified manufacturing company, VDL Groep. Founded by Pieter van der Leegte in 1953, it now comprises more than 100 companies operating in 19 countries, overseen by Willem van der Leegte, who represents the third generation of the VDL family.

The vehicle presented at the show was a first demonstrator, but Schaeffler and VDL have plans to produce more, with the aim of commencing customer pilots in Germany in 2025.

Pinnacle Mobility, a new entrant in EV manufacturing, is investing up to USD261.5m to make 9m and 12m electric buses and electric mini-trucks to cater to the booming last-mile mobility space.