VDL-Van Hool () (formerly known as Van Hool NV) is a Belgian coachbuilder and manufacturer of buses, coaches, trolleybuses, and trailers.

Most of the buses and coaches are built entirely by Van Hool, with engines and axles sourced from Caterpillar, Cummins, DAF and MAN and gearboxes from ZF or Voith. Some production involved building bus and coach bodies on separate bus chassis from manufacturers such as Volvo and Scania.

Worldwide, Van Hool employed 4,500 people and manufactured more than 1,700 buses and coaches (bodyworks and complete vehicles combined) and 5,000 trailers each year. It sold an average of 600 coaches annually in the United States.

Van Hool filed for bankruptcy on Friday, 5 April 2024, and was declared bankrupt the following Monday (8 April 2024) by the Commercial Court of Belgium. On 10 April 2024, it was announced that Van Hool's trustees had accepted a takeover bid from Netherlands-based bus manufacturer VDL and Germany-based semi-trailer manufacturer Schmitz Cargobull.

History

Bernard Van Hool (1902–1974) was a farmer in Koningshooikt, near Lier, Belgium; he and wife Bertha Van Asch had eight sons and two daughters. The company was a family business: of the 22 initial employees, five were related to Bernard, including his brother-in-law and his four eldest sons; it changed its name in 1954 to Van Hool en Zonen ("and Sons").

In the early years, Van Hool was a bus coachbuilder using motor vehicle chassis from other companies; However, the family could not agree on implementation; Van Hool filed for bankruptcy on Friday, 5 April 2024 and was declared bankrupt the following Monday (8 April 2024) by the Commercial Court of Belgium, with production stopping and putting 1550 jobs at risk.

On 10 April 2024, it was announced that Van Hool's trustees had accepted a takeover bid from Netherlands-based bus manufacturer VDL and Germany-based semi-trailer manufacturer Schmitz Cargobull.

Product range (North America)

Due to the Buy America Act of 1982, only coach buses were introduced in the United States starting in 1987, and were aimed at the private and charter bus market. Low floor transit coaches by Van Hool were not introduced until 2002. Currently, Van Hool has four separate product lines: the TX series deluxe touring coaches, the CX series touring coaches, the TD925 and TDX double-decker coach, and the A-series transit buses. Van Hool's exclusive dealer in the United States is ABC Companies.

In 2018, Van Hool Headquarters announced plans to construct a new manufacturing facility in Morristown, Tennessee designed to produce public transit buses. The facility was planned to open in 2020, and employ 600 workers, capable of making approximately 400 buses annually. In 2022, the planned factory was delayed until 2025, with Van Hool citing the downturn in the market for tour buses due to the global COVID-19 pandemic. However, construction never began and in April 2024, Van Hool declared bankruptcy and was acquired by VDL Groep and GRW.

Discontinued products

T8 series touring coach

The T815 was first introduced to the United States market in 1987. Later subsequent models are collectively known as the T8 series. The earliest use Cummins L10 diesels. Later versions use Cummins M11 diesels. It was available in length versions.

T9 series touring coach

T9 series are almost identical to the T8 series visually, and are largely identical mechanically as well, except for incremental updates. Later models in the T9 series have larger suspension airbags, as well as front disc brakes instead of drum brakes. Van Hool's VIN consider T8 and T9 to be the same family. It was available as T940 or extended T945 versions.

A3 transit bus series

Van Hool and ABC partnered with AC Transit (Alameda and Contra Costa counties, California) to demonstrate the A3 series as a future transit alternative in 2002. The AG300 is an articulated bus, while the A330 is a bus. The A330 and AG300 low floor transit coaches formally entered service in AC Transit's fleet in June 2003. AC Transit has over 290 Van Hool buses either in its fleet or on order as of August 2016.

Van Hool was building sixteen hydrogen fuel cell buses for the United States . These buses are powered by fuel cells from UTC Power and lithium batteries from EnerDell. Twelve of the buses are being purchased by AC Transit and four by CT Transit of Hartford, Connecticut. This project is unusual in that the buses have been designed from the ground up as fuel cell buses and are designed, built, and integrated by a single manufacturer.

thumb|An AC Transit Van Hool A300K bus

In 2008, AC Transit took delivery of a fleet of new model A300L buses. These buses are unique in the United States market, as they have their engines mounted between the front and rear axles in an attempt to improve the ride quality. This bus is a longer version of the previously introduced A300K (K stands for kort, "short" in Dutch and L for lang, "long"). A survey of AC Transit riders found that they approved of the design and quality of the new buses.

Utah Transit Authority (based in Salt Lake City) purchased ten A300L buses in 2008, followed by four more in 2009, for its MAX bus rapid transit system. These buses differ from AC Transit's A300Ls as they have three doors and are equipped for cold weather and high altitude operations.

thumb|A Van Hool single articulated bus with North American specifications operated by [[York Region Transit north of Toronto, Ontario, Canada]]

York Region Transit (north of Toronto, Ontario) uses the A330 and AG300 buses on its Viva routes, though the A330 buses are being transferred to the conventional YRT service as more Nova LFX buses arrive for the Viva services. The Réseau de transport de Longueuil (south of Montreal, Quebec) also used the AG300 buses, and was the first to use Van Hool transit buses in North America (AG700) in 1989.

Washington, D.C.'s Circulator uses the A330 buses. These 29 buses were purchased from AC Transit in 2005. In addition to the A330 models, the Circulator now uses the new A300K buses, which first went into service in April 2009. The Circulator recently took delivery of fourteen A300K, buses to build out its route structure. The A300K was chosen because of its ability to do the work of buses for nearly all operations with the smaller body and engine of a midi bus.

FirstTransit took delivery of twelve A300Ls and four AG300s in early 2009, for use on the University of Minnesota Campus Connector.

Baltimore, Maryland's Charm City Circulator have recently ordered and since put five A300Ls into service early 2011. The A300L was a supplement order to their already existing, but rehabilitating Designline buses.

TX- American Version highway Coach

thumb|Van Hool TX45 going through Downtown NYC

In 2015, Van Hool started production of the TX40 and TX45 highway coach in the US. In 2018, production of the TX series stopped in the US.

Current products

T21 series luxury touring coach

Introduced in 1995 and based on the European T9 platform, the T21 series features an updated design and more engine choices. Whereas the T8 and T9 series are almost exclusively powered by Cummins diesel engines, the T21 series is available with Cummins M11 plus, Detroit Diesel Series 60, or Caterpillar C13 ACERT engines. Later models of the T21 simplified the windshield into two panes only, replaced headlight assemblies with individual projector lamps, and consolidated the driver console. It is available as T2140 or extended T2145 versions.

C2000 series touring coach

thumb|A [[Fung Wah Bus Transportation|Fung Wah Bus Van Hool C2045 in eastern Connecticut]]

Introduced as a lower-cost coach for long-distance routes, the C20 series, styled similarly to the T21 series, was introduced in 2000 to the United States market. C20 is available with Cummins ISX12 or Detroit Diesel DD13 engines. Previous generations could also be equipped with Cummins M11 plus, Cummins ISM, Detroit Diesel series 60 and Caterpillar C13 engines. Both Allison B500 automatic and ZF AS Tronic automated gearboxes are available. Greyhound operates a fleet of C2045s along with its MCI buses in Michigan.

thumb|An [[Academy Bus Lines CX35 in New York City]]

CX series touring coach

Introduced in 2013 for the 2014 model year, the CX45 is a redesigned C2045 with a redesigned front end, new rear cap, and new interior features. It was offered with the Cummins ISX12 until 2019, before switching to the Cummins X12. The Detroit Diesel DD13 is also offered.

In 2015, Van Hool introduced a 35-foot coach to the North American market to compete with the MCI J3500. This coach is called the CX35 and is offered with a Cummins L9 (ISL9 before 2017) engine.

Introduced in 2019, the CX45E is an all-electric version of the CX45, with Proterra batteries. A CX35E is in the works, but has not been released as of yet.

TD925 Astromega double-deck touring motorcoach

The TD925 Astromega is a closed-top double-decker motor coach meeting United States specifications. It is a variant of the TD925 Astromega coach available in Europe.

Products

A Van Hool TD925 bus in [[New York City|thumb]]

thumb|right|A Van Hool C2045-L in New York City

right|thumb|Van Hool T916 Astronef

Transit buses

Europe

  • A308 midibus, full low floor, with side-mounted engine. Also available as diesel-electric hybrid.
  • A309 midibus, low entry (low floor up to the second door). Also available as diesel-electric hybrid.
  • A320 standard bus (out of production)
  • A300 standard bus, full low floor, with side-mounted engine. Also available as diesel-electric hybrid.
  • A300 CNG standard bus
  • A360 standard bus, low entry. Also available as diesel-electric hybrid.
  • A330 standard bus, full low floor, engine placed horizontally in the back. Also available as diesel-electric hybrid.
  • A330 CNG standard bus
  • AG300 articulated bus. Also available as diesel-electric hybrid.
  • AGG300 bi-articulated bus
  • A330T trolleybus
  • AG300T articulated trolleybus
  • AG300 CNG articulated bus
  • ExquiCity 18 articulated BRT bus (diesel electric hybrid, trolley, fuel cell or electric)
  • ExquiCity 24 bi-articulated BRT bus (diesel electric hybrid, trolley, fuel cell or electric
  • A308E electric bus
  • newA300K bus, shortened A300L
  • newA300L full low floor bus, side-mounted midship engine
  • newA330 full low floor bus, side-mounted rear engine
  • newAG300 articulated full low floor bus, side-mounted midship engine

Touring coaches

Europe

  • T915 Atlon
  • T916 Atlon
  • TX11 Alicron
  • TX15 Alicron
  • TX16 Alicron
  • TX15 Acron
  • TX16 Acron
  • TX17 Acron
  • TX18 Acron
  • TX16 Astron
  • TX17 Astron
  • TX15 Astronef
  • TX16 Astronef
  • TX17 Astronef
  • TX17 Altano
  • TX18 Altano
  • TX19 Altano

thumb|right|A Van Hool EX15H available 2015

  • TDX20 Altano
  • TDX21 Altano
  • TDX25 Astromega
  • TDX27 Astromega
  • EX15H
  • EX16M
  • EX17H

North America

  • TX40(Discontinued)
  • TX45(Discontinued)
  • CX35
  • CX45
  • TD925 Astromega USA

Japan

  • TDX24 Astromega（Model for intercity buses is called “J-InterCity DD”.）

thumb|TDX24 Astromega in [[Meitō-ku, Nagoya|Meitō-ku, Nagoya (JR Tokai bus)]]

Trolleybuses

  • Van Hool A300T
  • ExquiCity Trolleybus

<gallery mode="packed" heights="160">

VanHool A300T 1229.jpg|VanHool A300T in Greece

AG280T07.jpg|Van Hool AG280T in Bulgaria

Linz trolejbus 238.jpg|Van Hool ExquiCity in Austria

</gallery>

Airside transfer buses

  • Van Hool AP1130
  • Van Hool AP1137
  • Van Hool AP1237
  • Van Hool AP1325
  • Van Hool AP2375

<gallery mode="packed" heights="160">

Palermo-Airport-bjs2007-02.jpg|Van Hool AP-series bus at Palermo Airport, Italy

Turkey2002 img 0576.jpg|Van Hool AP1137 in Turkey

</gallery>

In motorsport

Van Hool owned Team Astromega, which competed in International Formula 3000 and A1 Grand Prix with drivers including family member Mikke Van Hool.

References

  • ABC Companies (North American Vanhool Dealer)
  • Official website