VDL AEC Maritime in Eindhoven has received a significant order for the delivery of seven scrubber systems from Greece based ship management company, Thenamaris. With this order VDL AEC Maritime firmly strengthens its market position in Greece. These scrubber systems will be delivered before the end of March 2020.

In cooperation with Siemens, VDL will investigate how vehicle technologies, energy storage and charging systems work together. The VDL Charging Test Centre has therefore been expanded with new charging technology to provide more insight into smarter, more efficient use of the existing power grid and the bi-directional charging of heavy vehicles. Bi-directional charging means that electric vehicles are not only able to draw energy from the power grid and energy storage system but also to deliver energy back to these systems. The VDL Charging Test Centre is located on the premises of VDL ETS (Enabling Transport Solutions) in Valkenswaard.

VDL Translift in Dronten has presented the first electric vehicles for the collection of waste and raw materials, together with public waste collectors HVC, ROVA, the municipality of Rotterdam and Cure. So-called side loaders, the two vehicles will be deployed by HVC and ROVA in quarter four of this year. The two electric crane trucks for Rotterdam and Cure will follow in quarter one of 2020.

VDL Groep's turnover in the first half of 2019 was, in line with expectations, slightly lower than in the same period of last year. The result was higher compared to the first two quarters of 2018. The main causes for the decline in turnover are that VDL is building fewer cars this year than last year and the decline in demand in the semiconductor industry. VDL is expecting the economic growth to continue to level out during the second half of the year. Nevertheless, the industrial family business in Eindhoven has confidence in the rest of 2019.

VDL Groep consolidates its market position for automated guided vehicles (AGVs). Until 2023, VDL Automated Vehicles will supply no fewer than 80 electric and autonomous vehicles to port operator PSA. From 2021, these vehicles will be used for container terminal logistics at PSA Singapore’s Port. The order involves tens of millions of euros.

VDL Translift in Dronten is developing four electric vehicles, based on the electric drive units designed in collaboration with DAF Trucks, for the collection of waste. In collaboration with public waste collectors HVC, ROVA and Stadsbeheer Rotterdam, the vehicles will be ready for operation later this year. The vehicles have a driving range of around 100 kilometres and will be used for low-noise waste collection in residential areas without emitting hazardous pollutants.

VDL Groep intends to acquire the activities of Siemens Hengelo. The industrial family firm with its head office in Eindhoven has signed a declaration of intent with Siemens Netherlands in this respect. However, before the acquisition can take place, the outcome of the due diligence must be positive, and the works councils, trade unions and the Dutch Competition Authority must give their consent. VDL expects to know whether the deal will be finalised in the last quarter of 2018. In the coming period, in which various negotiations will be started, the parties will not make any further announcements.

VDL Groep has founded a new production firm in the US state of Georgia. VDL Industries Gainesville is based in Hall County. This district is close to Atlanta, the major industrial, trade and financial hub of the Southeastern United States. VDL Industries Gainesville will become operational in September 2018, eventually providing jobs to around 100 employees.

VDL Groep strengthens its position as an electrification specialist for heavy-duty transport. Today, Friday 25 May, a unique charging location for electric vehicles was opened on the grounds of VDL ETS (Enabling Transport Solutions) in Valkenswaard. Up to seven vehicles can be charged simultaneously in different ways. The speed at which the transition to sustainable transport solutions is occurring makes it necessary to gain even more insight into the complete chain of electric heavy-duty transport. This insight is of great importance to the further development of VDL Groep's leading position as a specialist in the electrification of heavy-duty transport vehicles.

Today, Wednesday 16 May, VDL Groep and DAF presented their entirely electric truck. The two Eindhoven firms have joined forces to develop this e-truck, and plan to supply electric trucks to customers later this year. With this announcement, DAF and VDL are responding to the increasing demand for emission-free driving and a reduction in noise levels, especially in urban areas. The DAF CF Electric VDL E-Power offers our customers the perfect solution to this.

By the end of last year VDL Bus & Coach announced having reached an agreement for VDL Bus & Coach Nordic AB to acquire all shares of Swedish company Björks & Byberg. This agreement was completely finalized on 4 May 2018. The acquisition by VDL Bus & Coach was with retrospective effect from 1 January 2018. VDL Bus & Coach Nordic, with subsidiaries in Sweden, Finland and Norway, employs approximately 60 people. The decision by VDL to take over the share package is a logical follow-up to the chosen strategy of being directly present in the major European bus markets.

VDL ETG Projects, part of VDL Groep, will build the supporting structure for the main mirror of the Extremely Large Telescope (ELT) in northern Chile. At an elevation of over 3 km, this is where the ESO (European Southern Observatory) will build the world's largest telescope. The supporting structure consists of 798 individual support structures for mirror segments, which together form the telescope's main mirror (with a diameter of over 39 metres). The order, which VDL ETG Projects will deliver over the course of five years, is worth several tens of millions of euros.

In March 2017, the Belgian organisation WaterstofNet received approval for the project ‘H2-Share’ from Interreg North-West Europe (NWE). VDL is proud to announce that it is joining in this partnership. The project aims to build and demonstrate a 27 ton rigid truck fuelled by hydrogen with a mobile H2 refueler.

Connexxion, Amsterdam Transport Region and Schiphol presented Europe's largest electric bus fleet today, Wednesday 28 March 2018, in the presence of Secretary of State Stientje van Veldhoven (Infrastructure). From Sunday 1 April 2018, 100 electric articulated VDL Citeas SLFA Electric will be in operation at and around Schiphol Airport and on high-grade public transport lines in the Amstelland-Meerlanden concession area.