Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jun 10, 2026

VDL Bus Group

VDL Group is a Dutch vehicle manufacturer. It is an amalgamation of several bus building companies within the VDL Groep. VDL Bus Group has manufacturing plants in Belgium and the Netherlands. By 2018 VDL Bus & Coach sold 500 electric buses.

Last revised
Jun 10, 2026
Read time
≈ 3 min
Length
669 w
Citations
11
Source
VDL Bus Group
IndustryAutomotive
PredecessorBerkhof
Bova
DAF Bus
Hainje
Jonckheere
Kusters
Founded1993
Headquarters,
Netherlands
Key people
Rolf-Jan Zweep (CEO)1
ProductsBuses and Coaches
ParentVDL Groep
Websitewww.vdlbuscoach.com

VDL Group (also previously called as DAF Bus) is a Dutch vehicle manufacturer. It is an amalgamation of several bus building companies within the VDL Groep. VDL Bus Group has manufacturing plants in Belgium and the Netherlands.2 By 2018 VDL Bus & Coach sold 500 electric buses.3

History

VDL Citea XLE-145 source ↗
VDL Citea DLF-114 source ↗
VDL Futura FHD3 source ↗
VDL Futura FDD2-141 source ↗
Arriva Shires & Essex Alexander ALX400 bodied DAF DB250LF at Northwood tube station in June 2014 source ↗
Plaxton Paramount bodied DAF MB200 source ↗
Arriva North West Wright Pulsar 2 bodied VDL SB200 in Liverpool source ↗
Kowloon Motor Bus MCV DD102 bodied VDL DB300 in Hong Kong in November 2014 source ↗

VDL Bus & Coach originates from the VDL Groep acquiring the following bus building companies in the Netherlands and Belgium:45

  • Berkhof (acquired in 1998, based in Valkenswaard, became VDL Bus Modules). Formerly part of Berkhof Jonckheere Groep, which VDL Groep acquired in 1998.6
  • Bova (acquired in 2003, based in Valkenswaard, became VDL Bus Valkenswaard).7
  • DAF Bus (acquired in 1993, based in Eindhoven, became VDL Bus Chassis). Originally named DAF Bus International after being separated from the truck-building business of DAF, it joined United Bus in 1990. It became a subsidiary of VDL Groep after United Bus collapsed in 1993. DAF Bus International was renamed VDL Bus International in September 2003. In 2008, VDL Bus International was renamed VDL Bus Chassis.8
  • Hainje (acquired in 1998, based in Heerenveen, became VDL Bus Heerenveen). Formerly part of Berkhof Jonckheere Groep, which VDL Groep acquired in 1998.
  • Jonckheere (acquired in 1998, based in Roeselare, became VDL Bus Roeselare). Formerly part of Berkhof Jonckheere Groep, which VDL Groep acquired in 1998.
  • Kusters (acquired in 1998, based in Venlo, became VDL Bus Venlo). Formerly part of Berkhof Jonckheere Groep, which VDL Groep acquired in 1998.
  • Van Hool (acquired in 2024). Acquired the bus building part of the company after the company became bankrupt. Performed a merger with Van Hool afterwards, changing their name from "VDL Bus & Coach" to "VDL Bus Group".

Leadership

  • Rémi Henkemans (2017)
  • Henk Coppens (2017–2021)9
  • Paul van Vuuren (2021–2023)10
  • Rolf-Jan Zweep (2023–present)11

Products

Current

Integral buses and coaches

Chassis

  • SB180 - Low entry
  • SB200 - Low entry
  • SB230 - Low entry
  • SBR230 - Low entry
  • DB300 - Double deck
  • TB2175 - Heavy duty (front engine)
  • TBR2175 - Heavy duty (front engine)
  • SB4000 - Intercity / Coach
  • SBR4000 - Coach

Van conversions

  • MidCity
  • MidEuro

Historical (including DAF bus models)

Integral coaches and whole vehicles

  • Lexio (interurban bus body on VDL SB4000 chassis, marketed as VDL Bova Lexio)
  • Magiq (integral coach, ex Bova, renamed VDL Bova Magiq)
  • Synergy (double deck coach body on VDL SBR4000 chassis, marketed as VDL Bova Synergy)

Chassis

  • B62
  • B1100
  • B1300
  • B1500
  • B1502
  • B1600
  • DB250
  • MB200
  • MB205
  • MB210
  • MB230
  • MBG200
  • MBG205
  • SB120
  • SB201
  • SB210
  • SB220
  • SB225
  • SBR235
  • SB250
  • SB260 - Chassis modules for VDL Citea SLF
  • SB1600
  • SB1602
  • SB1605
  • SB2000
  • SB2005
  • SB2100
  • SB2300
  • SB2305
  • SB2700
  • SB2705
  • SB2750
  • SB3000
  • SBG220
  • SBR3000/SBR3015
  • TB100
  • TB102
  • TB160
  • TB163
  • TB300
  • TB2100
  • TB2105
References

References

  1. https://www.sustainable-bus.com/news/rolf-jan-zweep-ceo-vdl-bus-coach/#:~:text=Rolf%2DJan%20Zweep%20is%20new,Commerce%2C%20Corporate%20Finance%20and%20Acquisitions
  2. Core activities Archived 2019-04-21 at the Wayback Machine VDL Bus & Coach
  3. Kane, Mark (2018-09-26). "VDL Bus & Coach Sold 500th Electric Bus". InsideEVs. Retrieved 2020-04-26.
  4. "VDL at Euro6". Bus & Coach Buyer. 2014-03-07. Retrieved 2020-09-13.
  5. "VDL Weborganigram" (PDF). Retrieved 2020-09-13.
  6. ANP (1998-10-06). "VDL neemt Berkhof Jonckheere over". de Volkskrant (in Dutch). Retrieved 2020-09-13.
  7. "Fusie busfabrikanten". Trouw (in Dutch). 2003-05-07. Retrieved 2020-09-13.
  8. VDL Bus International becomes VDL Bus Chassis VDL Bus Chassis September 2008
  9. "Henk Coppens new Managing Director VDL Bus & Coach bv, our Strategic GPN Partner -". Retrieved 2026-04-04.
  10. "Change at the helm of VDL Bus & Coach. Paul van Vuuren is the new CEO". Sustainable Bus. 2021-07-01. Retrieved 2026-04-04.
  11. "Rolf-Jan Zweep took over the position of CEO at VDL Bus & Coach". Sustainable Bus. 2023-01-17. Retrieved 2026-04-04.
External links