Family-owned company VDL Groep to work with the Dutch Ministry of Defence and use capacity and facilities in Born (Limburg) and some other sites for defence production. This will enable innovative companies to scale up in the Netherlands. Minister Ruben Brekelmans and  President & CEO Willem van der Leegte announced their collaboration today at VDL Groep in Eindhoven.

In line with expectations, 2024 was less successful for VDL Groep than the previous year. Events which had an immediate impact converged: the winding down at VDL Nedcar, headwinds from material shortages and subsequently delayed deliveries of buses, stagnating market developments and increased costs (for wages, energy, interest, legislation). After a poor first six months, operating results showed signs of recovery during the second half of 2024. Excluding the Car Assembly division, annual turnover is the highest ever. Sales are expected to remain the same in 2025, with further recovery of the operating results.

VDL De Meeuw was selected by the Belgian Buildings Agency as the winner of the framework contract for the construction of small-scale detention houses in Belgium. These innovative facilities are a crucial link in the execution of short-term sentences and focus on reintegration and self-sufficiency. Mainly thanks to its pioneering modular construction method that it developed in house, VDL De Meeuw emerged as the best party in the tendering procedure. In addition to the 600 housing units in detention houses, the federal government can deploy the framework contract for other projects with a total of 500 additional housing and reception units.

Public transport operator Arriva has placed an order for as many as 157 new electric buses from VDL Bus & Coach, the buses division of VDL Groep. These buses, the new generation VDL Citea, are destined for the new West Brabant concession, which will enter into operation on 6 July 2025.