OKLAHOMA CITY – Last year’s bankruptcy of the family-owned manufacturer behind the beloved Van Hool motorcoach brand left North American operators uncertain about the future of their Van Hool fleets.
However, a lifeline arrived when the Holland-based VDL Groep stepped in to acquire the Belgian company, securing the brand’s legacy.
Less than a year later, the CEO of the company’s North American distributor would argue that the brand is more stable than any other brand in the market.
At the 2025 UMA Motorcoach EXPO held Feb. 20-23 in Oklahoma City, ABC Companies gave attendees the chance to hear directly from the new owners and ask about what lies ahead.
ABC Companies, the longtime North American distributor of Van Hool, partnered with VDL Groep to host the exclusive Coachside Connect Q&A session.
The panel featured Roman Cornell, CEO of ABC Companies; Jay Oakman, chief operating officer of ABC Companies; Marc van Doorn, CEO of VDL Van Hool; and Remi Henkemans, senior vice president of VDL Groep. The discussion focused on the partnership’s vision, operational achievements, and plans to address evolving market needs.
How partnership developed
The panel began with Oakman reflecting on the partnership’s origins and how it has matured into a strategic alliance.
“Our goal was always to ensure that North American operators were as excited – or more excited – about the Van Hool brand under VDL leadership as we are. From 2013 to today, our relationship with VDL has proven that we share values of trust, innovation, and customer-first solutions,” Oakman said. “That foundation made the transition seamless when VDL acquired Van Hool’s assets.”
Oakman highlighted that the long-standing relationship between ABC Companies and VDL Groep, built on shared family-business values, allowed for rapid progress. By 2023, ABC had become VDL’s second-largest parts customer worldwide.
“Our relationship with VDL began back in 2013 at a global passenger network event. Over the years, we realized we shared similar values and goals, which naturally led to a strong partnership,” said the ABC Companies’ COO. “What started as a simple conversation grew into a collaboration built on trust and a shared vision for the future of transportation.”
Cornell described the journey from acquisition to operational stability.
“When VDL officially took over in July of last year, Belgium operations were shut down, while Macedonia was still producing buses. In just seven months, VDL reorganized, renegotiated with vendors, and restarted production,” Cornell said. “It’s impressive how far we’ve come. I’d rate our progress a solid B-plus.”
He emphasized that progress has been strong, with both ABC and VDL committed to achieving their long-term goals, including improvements in fleet uptime, cost reductions, and enhanced serviceability — that could further reinforce the partnership’s value.
Stable future
Cornell acknowledged the early uncertainty surrounding the transition but emphasized the confidence operators can now have in Van Hool’s future.
“VDL is a holder, not a flipper. Let that sink in. When I think about where we were last year and where we are today, this brand is now the most stable supplier in North America,” Cornell said. “That stability gives our customers peace of mind, knowing that Van Hool is here to stay.”
Addressing concerns about supply chain disruptions, van Doorn assured attendees that VDL Groep had made significant investments to stabilize operations.
“A lot of energy went into restoring the supply chain,” said the CEO of VDL Van Hool. “Money is no issue. We wanted to restore production quickly, and the results speak for themselves. Production is nearly back to full speed, allowing us to serve our customers efficiently.”
Van Doorn noted that VDL Groep’s extensive portfolio, spanning high-tech, mobility, energy, infra-tech and food tech, provided additional expertise that benefits the motorcoach sector.
Henkemans explained how VDL’s broader manufacturing capabilities would enhance the Van Hool product line in North America.
“VDL Van Hool has long been known for reliability, sustainability, and low operating costs,” said the VDL Groep senior vice president. “Our engineering capacity, combined with expertise in fuel efficiency and e-mobility, will further enhance our offerings. Together with ABC Companies, we’re delivering high-quality vehicles that meet the evolving needs of North American operators.”
Henkemans emphasized the partnership’s customer-centric philosophy, explaining that close operator engagement ensures products align with market demands.
‘A lot of action coming’
During the panel, Oakman highlighted ABC Companies’ dedication to translating operator feedback into actionable solutions.
“Our job is to get information from the market and translate it into solutions that work. We are organizing channels to hear directly from the street because we believe operator feedback is critical to innovation,” Oakman said.
Cornell added that VDL retained key personnel in Belgium and Macedonia.
“Keeping that experienced team intact was essential. Their knowledge ensured continuity, and that’s reflected in our rapid recovery,” Cornell said.
Van Doorn expressed optimism about the partnership’s future.
“The possibilities are endless. With ABC’s market knowledge and VDL’s engineering and production capabilities, we’re well-positioned to lead the North American motorcoach industry,” van Doorn said.
Cornell emphasized a balanced approach to innovation.
“Our first priority is our core business. After that, we’ll look at how VDL’s diverse expertise can meet North America’s evolving needs. There’s a lot of action coming, and I’m confident in our shared future,” Cornell said.
Photos by Jill Kelly of Terrapin Blue. Click here to see all the photos from the Opening Session of the 2025 UMA Motorcoach EXPO.
