This bus factory builds 1000 buses a year for over 20 different countries | VDL Van Hool Bus Factory

[@CallsignMiller]

It is insane to me that you drove that double decker of "Bakker" with the blue stripes. We are awaiting receival of this coach and it will be my allocated coach for the upcoming years.

[@tonyvlip]

I was honestly amazed at how much of the process in this factory was made by real people and not by robotics... truly impressive video

[@kikolazarev2109]

My dad works here and knowing the profesionalism of his an of his colleagues I must say that they are vroducing one of the safest busses out there.

[@lorenzromano2445]

What a great video.. As a employee at VDL Bus & Coach, I watched it with a lot of passion. Now I understand completely why VDL has taken the new ownership of Van Hool. Here’s to many more beautiful buses!

[@ryanhector7201]

It has been 15 years since I rode on VanHool bus it was an AG300 articulated for the RTL in Longueuil they Served the 45 for many years those buses were the first time I ever rode on a arctic bus I feel in love it this will have a place in my heart for Transit

[@gilabear11]

James, I'm a retired international teacher (20 years). I lived/taught 3 years in next door Kosovo. Skopje was just down the road, and you are correct about the statues. The Balkans are a very beautiful part of the world. I guess I am a bus nut because I've enjoyed your content for a couple of years now. Did a lot of bus travel in various countries around the world. Ciao!

[@MotorcoachWorld]

@@gilabear11 hey always good to meet a fellow bus nut lol. Thank you for the comment. I wish I got to spend some more time there and get to know the culture. I really wanted to go on a food tour and try all the local cuisines. One of these days I will have to go back.

[@dougwoodie6675]

Props for another informative video! Since my fleet here in the U.S. is currently 100% Vanhool it was extra special seeing the Macedonia facility up close and personal like this. I my earlier years I had the gracious opportunity to visit the factory in Belgium 3 separate times. I was always fascinated by their ability to build so many various models. It was very interesting seeing the more European EX model. I had hoped over the years something like the EX17 might make its way to the states. I guess we will see what the future brings.

[@derekantill3721]

A fantastic tour of VDL Vanhool a very professional business to make 🇲🇰 Macedonia proud.

[@michaelgreen6268]

Hi James, amazing VDL Vanhool Factory Tour, I Loved Driving VanHools for ESCOT in Florida, Thank You so much great vlog!

[@blueeagletravelers1077]

I am amazed to see this, Thank you so much James.

[@nielsvantklooster4768]

Cool video! This really makes me enthousiastic again to drive in the VDL 18 meter electric and Van Hool double decker after my brake. Watching this while on break in a Heuliez 18m

[@Emirates_A380]

James thanks for the factory tour. So awesome you were able to drive the finished products🚍🙌🙌

[@Kevinskywest1]

THis is a great chance for insights into the VDL VanHool product.. Amazing... Lots of changes and moving forward.. Great team

[@HankSnowgrandslamfishing]

James that was very interesting. Nice to see where the Van Hool I drive came from. Thanks for sharing.

[@ryanhector7201]

Great video tour of the factory James

[@flh5959]

Finally got to see the video to the end. Absolutely awesome. Maybe the best video of the channel ever. Didn't know engines, transmissions and other US spec parts were shipped to the factory for factory installation. Wonder if the customers' liveries are finished there as well. I suppose that paint supervisor takes care of them. Some of my fondest memories in life were of driving the T2145s and the T945s. Too bad James' wife couldn't make it out there as it may have been a kind of homecoming to Eastern Europe.

[@sixpackmrttomskinner8792]

Awesome to see their continuing the production I especially like the two door system..( re- evacuations) very nice looking motor coaches..

[@domenickruttura5412]

So interesting thank you James

[@tnickknight]

I was just in Skopje, we had a great time. They have an amazing Old Market 😀

[@MotorcoachWorld]

Oh man that's what I really wanted to do while I was there. There was not enough time to go sightseeing. But I really wanted to check out all the local foods and cuisines and bazaars and markets. Maybe I will plan a trip back there one day

[@tnickknight]

@MotorcoachWorld you should, it's a fun visit , and can be tied in with seeing Greece

[@thomasmcmanus6575]

Awesome video. Thanks James for the cool video 👌. God bless. Be safe out there. Keep them coming.

[@jeffthompson4911]

Another well done video/vlog from Mr. James Wang....................thank you Mr. James Wang

[@robertfinley6288]

Excellent series on VDL and VanHool. The workmanship is amazing, and it appears VDL is not trying to cut cost. I also noticed there weren't any robots doing the welding and assembly. It is definitely handmade. But wnat really is impressive is the cleanliness of the manufacturing facility. You can eat off the floor. Thanks for the hard work a great video. Now get ready for Holiday student shuttles.

[@MotorcoachWorld]

Ha! Robert you know our operations pretty well. Holiday shuttles is exactly what we are gearing up for! Would you like to come work for us? LOL! Thanks for the kind words. IT was a great experience. And yes it was very organized and clean in that factory.

[@robertfinley6288]

@MotorcoachWorld I would love to move from Collinsville to Urbana but the hotest coach on the market that I drove was any Eagle 05. I don't know about all those fancy buttons. I have watched all your videos from the start. I see alot of PCC in St Louis

[@carolinecleaveley-q1r]

Hi James. Great to see the present van hool factory. Have driven these in the uk. Caroline in uk.

[@lancecluster]

Neat video, very well done video too. Loved seeing the giant welding jigs. You are a busy guy thanks for taking the time to bring us along.

[@richardlittler1493]

Great video James. The only time I drove a VanHool was in 1994 and it was a articulated city bus brought over from Belgium for demonstrating their product to the Canadian (Québec) market.

[@bluetheta]

It is so cool to see how these buses and coaches are made.

[@jean-claudebonillo1535]

Bonjour wow what a great video. Very well put together and loved the way you introduced everyone. Big Merci.

[@MotorcoachWorld]

Thank you! Its always very important to me that learn how to pronounce everyone's names. Many times when I visit other countries, people tell me not to worry about their names and that its hard to Pronounce. I always insist that they teach me out of respect. Every ones name is special. And I want to make sure I can say it right. Thanks for noticing.

[@railvlogger1439]

The RHD coach you drove is for Callinan Coaches in Ireland, who operate tours on behalf of CIE Tours International throughout Britain and Ireland. I drove for them for a while, doing their London to Dublin service, also in a Van Hool DAF.

[@cbenson1820]

The interior of vanhool is much more beautiful than before. The first bus I came into contact with was vanhool. I think its appearance is inferior to Prevost, but other aspects are good…

[@TheBadCivilServant]

I’ve only been driving Van Hool buses since 2017, when I moved to Florida from Toronto. Prior to that, I drove MCI D4500s at GO Transit. My experience with Van Hools has been very good. I’ve had few mechanical issues with them, particularly compared to the MCIs back in Canada. The only Van Hools I saw being operated by Canadian operators were the Megabus double deckers and bendy buses belonging to a suburban Toronto transit agency. So it really was a treat to finally be able to drive one here in the US.

[@timwatson3879]

It is my first time watching one of your presentations...very well done! You emphasized the care, dedication, and ethic of a well run company that takes a great deal of pride in their product. Great job!

[@crabbymilton390]

Very interesting and informative James. You get to see things that most of us bus nuts don’t. Thanks so much for taking us along and I look forward to future videos.

[@joshuahill6153]

Vanhool made some of the best coaches for New Zealand only four ever produced and they are coveted as the best coaches on the market.

[@XCPKieranj1X]

25:35 that bus belongs to Tommy Callinan, Callinan Coaches, Co. Galway in Ireland. He operates exclusively vanhool products

[@_Jin_Kim_]

what an amazing video. Thank you for taking us along!

[@mls515]

Beautiful country, and the breakfast makes a Hampton Inn free breakfast look like dog food.

[@vl5084]

I chanced on your videos a while back , I love everything about cars, buses, trucks etc. Something about you made me want to jump to any video you post, from your trip to China, food scouting loool etc , was excited for you when you took that great step to buy the coach company, I really loved your video of your visit to Vanhool. All I can say I wish you the best in life , you will succeed in everything that you do. When I find myself in the US I will come visit your company or if you find yourself in the U.K. let me know. Stay safe and cheers

[@MotorcoachWorld]

@@vl5084 thanks for your kind words. very touching to read your comment. I'm going to give it my best shot as far as keeping the company alive. Yes it you ever find your self near Urbana IL definitely let me know.

[@kevinanderson5658]

Awesome 👍 vlog Next year please visit UK Cummins engine plant in Darlington county Durham And plaxton coach building Scarborough north Yorkshire

[@MotorcoachWorld]

If someone invites me I will definitely go! Thanks for the comments!.

[@bigadventurewithbuses01]

The Vanhool T Series you drove is owned by callinan coaches a good few of the coaches already operate on cie tours i had a look in them vanhools in ireland when they started off on tours and honestly they are nice looking and a better upgrade than a vanhool EX

[@Skullitor]

The CX was known to leak badly, OVER the driver 😢 I hope that was fixed under VDL. Another great video, James. 🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@SindbadFanMichal]

Amazing video

[@yuri_on_youtube]

I remember my first ride in a VanHool in high school for a fields trip to Canada and thought it was the bees knees, the epitome of luxury coaches. Don't get me wrong, love me a Crown and Gillig school bus but I cannot imagine what VanHools are now after two decades.

[@alanflsm]

amazing

[@benwilson9150]

Great video and showing stuff we just don’t see down under! James as you are no longer just a bus nut, not just a driver, not just a CEO but and owner who does everything are you taking further opportunities like this to find your fleet of the future or are you approaching them as a bus nut geeking it out and looking at everything you can and just enjoying it and not worrying about what your fleet might be comprised of into the future?

[@MotorcoachWorld]

Hey Ben. Thank you for the kind words. To answer your questions... Now that I am a owner.. I think these types of opportunities gives me a bit of a advantage as I get to see more than the average business owners and the equipment they buy.

[@ShawnGliddon]

Great vid James 👍 I just wish there was an ABC type up here in Winnipeg...VanHools make mechanics nervous here! They are such a nice coach 😍

[@ericwoon1271]

Very good video. Have been on VanHool twice but i still prefer Scania and Volvo as i am from Malaysia

[@pokitty100]

Cool ! very cool😀

[@lpt2606]

As a Belgian i am still very sad about the bankruptcy and how the family ran the business. I hope that VDL takes care of the brand and keeps the van hool badge rolling on the road but as this video shows the Macedonia plant looks to have a bright future.

[@IamAllanC]

Does ABC also operate in Canada? York Region Transit has (or had} about 40 buses back in 2005. Edit; Ok, they have 41 NewAG300 articulated and 40 NewA300 buses.

[@flh5959]

Afaik Peoria operates buses of every major make available in the US. I'm interested to see which brand(s) James will favor going forward. lol

[@hajimetakahashi632]

Most time I see Hino busses

[@poincareconjecture5651]

I can't wait for you to get down to Brazil to drive the Marco Polo Paradiso😂

[@MotorcoachWorld]

That would be awesome! If someone invites me, I will go ;)

[@nicov1837]

Let's hope the quality is better than it was before the bankruptcy, because before the bankruptcy, all buses produced here needed to be sent to the Belgian plant to get checked, and they had to fix a LOT of major problems with the vehicles produced in Skopje.

[@joejones6842]

We need such successes here in the U.S.. Our Government has felt it necessary to export out manufacturing and technology to other Countries, contributing to the increase in our dependency on other Nations to produce our goods for us. Our labor force has suffered as a result, leaving us with an uneducated, and unmotivated pool to choose from. Meanwhile, American corporations enrich their bottom line at the expense of the American people.

[@nicov1837]

The government doesn't export production, private companies do that. And in Europe, the same problem exists: Western Europe has lost a lot of factories to Eastern Europe, Turkey, Asia, etc. This very production plant is a good example of exactly that: it was built in Macedonia because producing in Belgium had become too expensive, and wages in Macedonia are a fraction of what they are in Belgium.

[@crabbymilton390]

We spent too much resources to chase jobs away thru nonsense taxes regulations ,and rules.

[@gsdreagan109]

Were any of the busses being built bound for Peoria Charter?

[@MotorcoachWorld]

Unfortunately no. We have not placed any orders. Good question though. Thanks for thanks for the comment.

[@JoeHupp]

20 different countries, including Australia (the EX16H is the model we get here)

[@PolicarpiojrGonzales]

Real Tasty👌❤Magnificent 🚌🏆💖

[@tdhutch]

Will PCC get any TX45

[@MotorcoachWorld]

Not sure what Peoria Charter will get in the future. Right now we're going to make do with the fleet we have. I'm kind of low on cash after buying the company haha.

[@crabbymilton390]

@@MotorcoachWorld Well if you start buying dead school buses that have been sitting in a field for 40 years, then we’ll know you are having problems. Imagine driving something like that.

[@tdhutch]

@ I know boss

[@MiguelExhale]

How many did you buy?

[@sunahamanagai9039]

Depends on how many of his itches got scratched. :P

[@MotorcoachWorld]

None for now lol Im too broke after buying Peoria Charter LOL. Have to build up my reserves.

[@MiguelExhale]

@ they gave you the all star sales treatment. When I saw the back/ shoulder massage 💆, I knew they needed a contract.

[@Mr-pn2eh]

I mailed you a letter

[@Opinionatedguy1989]

How many of these coaches are going to be yours?

[@2005dave]

Hmm, looks like someone in NJ is getting a ‘25 CX45. I’ll just keep that info under my hat.

[@orenkipnis7058]

Vanhool was always a superior product. Now under the umbrella of VDL its future is secured. Unfortunately the North American spec coaches is worse then the EU spec coaches due to local regulations.

[@tallcaddy2553]

Hey James, you sending us this video from the future? 27 Nov 2024!!

[@MotorcoachWorld]

Huh??

[@tallcaddy2553]

Sorry man, guess I somehow mistook the date in the opening credits. My apologies.

[@MotorcoachWorld]

@@tallcaddy2553 LOL No worries man. I went through the entire video 3 times after reading your comment looking for a date that said the 27th LOL. I was like Oh crap! Where did I insert that mistake!!! haha. Thanks for the comment though. It truly means a lot!

[@tallcaddy2553]

My apologies once again James. Have yourself a blessed day. Thanks for being cool about my goof up. Appreciate you man.

[@schnuurtchke]

Buses 🚍🚌🚎

[@gronz]

I dont understand the anti-corrosion primer, why use a stainles steel frame & chassis if you dont use the advantage of it?

[@landmeterbeuckx4779]

Van Hool Belgium went bust and VDL took over.

[@crabbymilton390]

That’s what gets me. They seem to have good people and operations in place. Yet they ended up in trouble. Hopefully things will turn around. Just so they don’t start doing stupid stuff like FORD and BOEING.

[@landmeterbeuckx4779]

@@crabbymilton390 internal problems in the original family and too strong unions which went on strike often didn't do it any good. Also Belgium is maybe the most taxed country on labour

[@crabbymilton390]

@@landmeterbeuckx4779 Ah yes. Can never underestimate the childishness aka unions to factor in problems.

[@nicov1837]

@@crabbymilton390 Unions had very little if anything to do with Van Hool's demise. The big problem was management, which ran the company in a very amateuristic way, combined with bad timing, and a big family feud. Management: the factory in Belgium was very inefficient. They built an excellent product, but they did so with way too many people, in a country that has very high labor costs. The way production was organized was very chaotic, leading to massive inefficiencies. Profit margins were extremely slim as a result; Bad timing: Covid meant that sales of coaches pretty much stopped overnight, for two years. When production increased again, worldwide supply chain problems, combined with high inflation in 2022 hampered the process. All of this led to the company bleeding massive amounts of cash, and in the end they simply ran out of money; Family feud: this goes back to the original founder of the company, Bernard Van Hool. When he died, the company was inherited by his eight (!) sons, who each got an equal share. His two daughters did not get any shares in the company; they got some cash and real estate instead. Important decisions for the company could only be made with a unanimous vote from each son, and later from each branch of the family. This was very inefficient, and hampered the company in its growth. When in the late 1990s three of the branches wanted to modernize the way the company was run, the five other branches disagreed. They wanted to keep the old 'unanimous vote' structure. In the end, the three branches were bought out, at a high price. The financial burden of the buyout weighed on the company for the coming decade and meant they couldn't really modernize the production facilities, or take part in the industry consolidation taking place at the time. Even worse: upon hearing about how much the three branches were paid, the two branches of the daughters demanded compensation too, and went to court. This whole mess was still going on at the time of the bankruptcy, and meant that the family couldn't put in more money to save the company from going under. They went under fighting amongst each other.

[@hang4963]

Nice 🤣💯👌🤙Team work 👍🫶💋

[@cellpat7392]

I thought Van Hool was Belgian. Wow.

[@MotorcoachWorld]

The Van Hool Family is Belgian, And the original Van Hool Factory was in Belgium. The Van Hool Family opened up this Factory In Macedonia in 2013 to increase production. In early 2024 Van Hool Family declared Bankruptcy for what ever reason.. And VDL bought the Van Hool company. VDL group is based out of the Netherlands in a town called Eindhoven.. which I made a video of their head quarters just before I released this one.

[@nicov1837]

It was. They built this plant about a decade ago because labor costs in Belgium were too high. Up until the bankruptcy earlier this year the Belgian plant was also still operational, but VDL decided to only produce in the Skopje plant.

[@RandomTrinidadian]

Importing some busses?

[@MotorcoachWorld]

Not this time. Im too broke to buy anything right now. Spent all of my money buying Peoria Charter lol

[@Eurobazz]

Nice video. However the name of the country is now officially North Macedonia. This was agreed with Greece which has a province named Macedonia. Prior to the name change to North Macedonia, it was referred to as FYROM, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.

[@zarkogeorgievski4455]

However where are you from smart man? You are very into politics as i can see.

[@Eurobazz]

​@@zarkogeorgievski4455 The Netherlands, thank you. Where are you from?

[@zarkogeorgievski4455]

@@Eurobazz from Macedonia. The comment you post is for another youtube video not for here,here we discuss for choaches and buses. Thank you

[@TellurideS13]

DAF engines are PACCAR engines.

[@ramon186]

Bro I texted you. I wanted to pick you up when you were in holland.

[@MotorcoachWorld]

You did? I did not get your text! Would have loved to met up with you. But Honestly I dont think I would have had the time. I was either sleeping or on the move with VDL. There was zero down time lol

[@ramon186]

@ To bad. I was like 60 minutes away. My email did not came through so I texted you. Next time brother.