Business conglomerate, VDL Groep, announces indicators of resurgence during the first half of 2025.
VDL Groep Reports Increase in Turnover and Profit for First Half of 2025
In a recent announcement, Willem van der Leegte, President & CEO of VDL Groep, reported an increase in turnover and profit improvement for the first half of 2025. The Dutch industrial manufacturing company, known for its diverse range of products from buses to defence systems, saw a 2.5 percent rise in turnover, excluding the Car Assembly division.
The company's combined turnover for the first half of the year reached 2 billion EUR. Notably, the Finished Products division modestly increased its turnover to 444 million EUR, from 432 million EUR in the previous year. Bus sales also saw a significant rise, with revenues reaching 270 million EUR, up from 132 million EUR last year.
However, the Subcontracting division experienced a decrease in turnover due to weaker conditions in the semiconductor sector, with its turnover falling to 1.30 billion EUR. The Car Assembly division, which continues to operate at a loss, is part of the reasons for the decrease.
The integration of VDL Van Hool is progressing, but the division still faces challenges and continues to operate at a loss. Despite these challenges, VDL expects turnover and earnings to remain stable in the second half of the year, but notes continuing uncertainty linked to global political and economic pressures.
In positive news, the order book for VDL Groep stood at 1.73 billion EUR in week 35. The company has also expanded its presence in food technology by acquiring Eindhoven-based Crux Agribotics, now renamed VDL Agrobotics.
VDL's activities in Born, Limburg, are being developed along four themes: sustainable mobility, battery and energy systems, high-tech manufacturing, and defence. In July, the Ministry of Defence signed an agreement to lease production space at the Born site for defence projects.
Employment levels at VDL Groep remained unchanged, with over 14,000 staff. The company has urged policymakers, following next month's general election, to pursue a consistent long-term industrial strategy to help strengthen the competitive position of the Netherlands and Europe.
The new third-generation VDL Futura production will begin next year, with its launch scheduled at Busworld in Brussels in October. With these developments, VDL Groep continues to shape the future of industrial manufacturing in the Netherlands and beyond.
