VDL Groep has strengthened its position in the high-quality electronics market. The industrial family business with its head office in Eindhoven has acquired Rena Electronica from Zundert. Rena Electronica develops and produces electronics, among others for LED products, in different markets. As a result of this acquisition, VDL particularly sees synergy benefits with VDL TBP Electronics, the subsidiary based in Dirksland and Eindhoven, which specialises in the assembly of high-quality electronics, so-called printed circuit board assemblies (PCBAs), circuit boards with electronic components.

As previously announced, due to the planned production stop for BMW Group and the inability to find direct connection with other automotive projects, VDL Nedcar in Born is forced to cut jobs by 1 March 2024. The formal request for advice on this was submitted to the Works Council (OR). Parallel to this, VDL Nedcar, VDL Groep’s car factory, continues to work on new vehicle projects.

VDL Groep is going to serial-assemble battery systems at the Mobility Innovation Centre (MIC) in Born. BMW Group has placed an initial, long-term order. VDL will assemble approximately 125,000 battery modules for the German car brand’s after sales business until at least 2035. This means the cooperation with BMW Group will be continued after 10 years of producing cars at VDL Nedcar. VDL is in discussions with other potential clients for the serial assembly of battery systems (battery modules and/or battery packs).

VDL Groep achieved this year’s growth forecast in the first half of 2023. The industrial family business with its head office in Eindhoven is on track to achieve a 5 to 10 percent increase in turnover growth in 2023. Net profit declined after the first six months of the year, although the net operating result has grown. 

Schaeffler and VDL Groep are jointly exploring the development and production of a new generation of self-driving electric shuttles for public transport. The two family-owned companies will be showing a first demonstrator of the vehicle at IAA Mobility in Munich. The prototype, which integrates Mobileye autonomous driving technology, and all relevant automotive electrification and steering technology can be experienced until Friday 8 September, 2023, at the booth of VDL Groep (hall B3, booth B21) as well at the booth of Schaeffler (hall B3, booth B40).

VDL Groep, the family-owned industrial company headquartered in Eindhoven, will be manufacturing and supplying aluminium bicycle frames. VDL Bike Frame Technologies is now finalising its fully automated production line. Millions have been invested in this new operation. Production will begin on this production line starting this summer, at sister company VDL Steelweld in Breda. QWIC will be the first customer of VDL Bike Frame Technologies. Over the next three years, VDL will supply 50,000 bicycle frames to this Dutch bicycle brand. Many additional bicycle brands have also expressed interest in 'homegrown' frames.

VDL Nedcar, VDL Groep's car factory in Born, is planning to switch to one-shift operations from 1 November 2023 as a result of work reductions due to volume decline. The formal request for consent to switch to a day shift and, inevitably to this decision, the request for advice on the reduction of employees were submitted to the Works Council today, 1 June.

Family-owned industrial company VDL Groep, headquartered in Eindhoven, plans to fully acquire Oirschot-based De Meeuw. VDL has held 50 percent of the shares of De Meeuw since 2015. De Meeuw is a specialist in flexible and modular housing in areas such as healthcare, education and business as well as for housing associations. This company, with production sites in Oirschot and Willebroek (Belgium), has over 400 employees and an annual turnover of €180 million (2022). Under the VDL flag, the company will continue as VDL De Meeuw.

After a somewhat hesitant start, the year 2022 was primarily a year of strong growth for VDL Groep. Despite uncertain geopolitical circumstances and external challenges resulting from shortages (of employees and materials) and rising costs (of wages, energy and materials), three of the four divisions realised double-digit turnover growth. The fourth division showed modest growth. The results also grew. Because the order portfolio (excluding the Car Assembly division) remains at a high level, 2023 will again be dominated by organising growth.

VDL Nedcar sets up a foundation that will make a contribution to the quality of life in and around the residential areas in the immediate vicinity of the car factory in Born by means of green space compensation in particular. This foundation will be named Stichting Groenfonds omgeving VDL Nedcar.

The Dutch technology developers and producers, Demcon and VDL Groep, are combining their laser satellite communication activities in FSO instruments. This is the first laser satellite communication technology company to be founded in the Netherlands and builds onto the groundbreaking technology developed by the Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research (TNO) in cooperation with companies, including Demcon and VDL. This is in line with the Dutch aim of attaining a position as a global market leader in the series production of high-quality FSO (free-space optics) instruments for laser satellite communications, for which specific interest exists among American and European companies. Gus van der Feltz has been appointed director of the FSO Instruments joint venture.

VDL Nedcar is undergoing a transition from an independent car manufacturer to a broadly oriented partner in sustainable mobility. This increases the added value and future-proofing of the country’s only passenger car factory where serial assembly takes place for third parties. The broadening of activities at VDL Nedcar in Born is visible in three areas: the assembly of vehicles for various clients, various sustainable mobility solutions at the Mobility Innovation Centre (MIC) and facilitating the growth strategy of sister companies, operating companies that are also part of VDL Groep. In recent years, land has been purchased and permit processes have been completed to transfer these broad-range activities to VDL Nedcar in Born.

Airbus and VDL Groep will be cooperating on the development and production of laser communication terminals for aircraft, called UltraAir. Work will commence with the development and production of a prototype. An initial test flight is planned for 2024. This will build on the developments initiated by aerospace company Airbus and research organisation TNO.