| VDL Groep has acquired Altran Automotive, which consists of Altran Engineering and Altran Netherlands. All 90-plus employees will continue to work at the Automotive Campus in Helmond. The activities will be integrated into VDL Enabling Transport Solutions (VDL ETS); VDL Groep’s operating company that focuses on partners and VDL companies in terms of researching, developing, building prototypes and testing new possibilities and concepts in the world of mobility. Altran Altran's activities include vehicle and vehicle component testing, software engineering, special vehicle prototyping and special vehicle concept design. In addition, the company has its own workshop with a testing facilities and has expertise in engineering and projects particularly focused on the automotive industry, but also for the high-tech industry. Altran Automotive is the legal predecessor of the development department of NedCar, now VDL Nedcar in Born. Expansion of engineering capabilities Willem van der Leegte: "We are delighted that this takeover will enable us to further expand our engineering capabilities, thus making an important contribution to our broad mobility strategy, which consists of the subfields of design, electrification, connectivity, autonomous driving and services. In addition, we would like to use the knowledge and skills of our new colleagues in Helmond, as well as the test facility, for future mobility concepts. These skills and concepts are also in line with the transformation we have initiated with VDL Nedcar, in order to be able to expand further support on employment in Born." Strengthening and broadening Menno Kleingeld, managing director of VDL ETS: "VDL ETS and Altran have been working together for years in the field of engineering work for VDL Bus &Coach. By integrating the activities, we further expand our capacity and competencies to better serve our external and internal customers. Moreover, an interesting cross-pollination can be created with our test facilities, already present at VDL Weweler at Automotive Campus in Helmond. In addition, we will further invest in setting up a battery test facility in Helmond, as part of our broader commitment to making the energy transition a success, alongside our investments in battery assembly at VDL Nedcar in Born. |
