Some or all members of the Van Hool T coach range will be discontinued after VDL said that its initial focus for the parts of the Belgian brand that it bought out of bankruptcy is the North American market and double-deckers.
One customer in the UK has been advised that a T16 Astron on order will not be delivered because that model has no part of VDL’s plans for Van Hool.
Another has been told that the T15 will also ultimately be dropped, although it is understood that T range models that do not compete directly with VDL product could be retained by VDL. But that is not yet certain and the T line-up in its entirety could eventually be discontinued.
Van Hool representatives have continued to hand over T coaches in other countries. A customer has been advised that while some of those vehicles at or approaching completion in the North Macedonia factory will be delivered, others at a less advanced stage may be cancelled.
VDL is understood to have been assessing each Van Hool coach on order from that plant on an individual basis, with a source close to the Dutch business noting that it has no control over deposits placed with either the bankrupt Van Hool business or dealership Van Hool UK, which is said to still be a going concern.
Court-appointed ‘curators’ of the bankrupt Van Hool business withdrew administrative support for Van Hool UK on 4 July, according to a communication sent on that date. Operators wanting return of deposits placed with the Wellingborough dealership have been advised to seek repayment directly.
The VDL spokesperson says that the group is taking its time to examine the Van Hool portfolio and is keeping all options open for now. However, VDL will only continue Van Hool business activities “that we consider viable and that strengthen our position.”
A 10-year deal was recently signed by VDL with North American importer of Van Hool coaches ABC Industries. While the Astromega double-decker looks set to continue in Europe, it is not known whether the Altano overdecker will.
The VDL Vision Futura project – now known as Futura 3 – does not include a double-decker and hence neither the Astromega nor the Altano compete with VDL products.
A comprehensive update on the Van Hool coach situation that builds on the above will be published in the July issue of routeone, which will arrive with subscribers from Thursday 11 July.
