Koningshooikt (Brussels Morning Newspaper) October 31, 2026 – HESS Belgium has established a dedicated expertise and service centre to support approximately 330 Exqui.City buses in operation across Europe while advancing its expansion into bus retrofit and modernisation projects. Founded in June 2024 following the bankruptcy of Belgian bus manufacturer Van Hool, the company brings together former Van Hool technical staff under the ownership of Swiss bus manufacturer Carrosserie HESS AG. Operating from a newly equipped facility near the original Van Hool headquarters, HESS Belgium operates a three-pillar business model covering international fleet support, specialised local maintenance, and large-scale vehicle retrofits.
Following the insolvency of Van Hool in April 2024, former Head of Sales Public Transport Geert Van Hecke collaborated with Carrosserie HESS AG Chief Executive Officer Alex Naef to assemble an operational team to complete outstanding vehicle deliveries and maintain support for existing public transport fleets. The initiative brought together five administrative managers and 25 technical specialists, all former employees of Van Hool, to prevent operational disruptions for public transport operators utilizing Van Hool’s high-capacity Exqui.City platforms.
Establishment of New Industrial Facility and Capital Investment
HESS Belgium was formally incorporated as a legal and financial entity in June 2024. The company secured a new operational building situated approximately 10 kilometres from the former Van Hool industrial site in Koningshooikt. The facility was designed to accommodate between 15 and 20 buses simultaneously for major maintenance, structural overhauls, and software integrations.
To fit out the new workspace, HESS Belgium acquired specialized machinery and industrial tooling from the Van Hool bankruptcy estate, which was initially used to complete the assembly and final testing of Exqui.City vehicles ordered for the Paris TZen bus rapid transit system in France. The company complemented these acquisitions with direct investments in new equipment, installing an overhead crane, an inspection pit, and a vehicle paint booth. Initial operational supply chain hurdles caused by outstanding creditor losses from the former entity were resolved through negotiations with original equipment manufacturers, including drivetrain supplier KIEPE Electric and charging infrastructure provider Alstom.
Execution of the Three-Pillar Strategic Framework
HESS Belgium structures its long-term commercial operations around three core business pillars designed to maintain financial stability following the conclusion of new Exqui.City vehicle manufacturing. Integrated into the broader HESS Service Division led by Fabian Hänggi, the Belgian unit functions as a specialized technical hub for multi-brand electric and conventional buses.
The first pillar covers ongoing field support, interventions, and technical maintenance for approximately 330 Exqui.City tram-buses currently in service with municipal operators across Norway, Sweden, France, and other European markets. Operators aim to maintain these vehicles in service for 10 to 20 additional years.
The second pillar targets the regional commercial market by providing specialized local maintenance services. Under this operational module, transport authorities and private operators send buses and coaches to the Koningshooikt facility for structural chassis repairs, collision damage restoration, and system software updates.
The third pillar focuses on large-scale vehicle retrofits and technological modernizations. This division undertakes battery system replacements, integrating updated battery chemistry and higher-capacity storage modules to extend vehicle operational lifespans from standard 15-year cycles up to 25 years. HESS Belgium has completed initial reference projects involving battery replacements and electrical system repairs on active transit fleets.
Workforce Expansion and Technical Integration
To support the growth of its retrofit operations and address workforce demographics—where a significant portion of the current 25 technicians are over 50 years of age—HESS Belgium has initiated a recruitment and training campaign. The company intends to expand its overall workforce to between 35 and 40 employees by hiring graduates from regional technical institutes.
HESS Belgium has established partnerships with local vocational schools to offer technical traineeships, creating a pipeline for junior technicians. The technical staff also participates in cross-training programs with Carrosserie HESS AG facilities in Switzerland, acquiring specialized techniques for complex repairs on heavily damaged vehicle structures and advanced trolleybus systems.
The creation of HESS Belgium aligns with Carrosserie HESS AG’s broader strategic acquisitions in specialized transit technologies, which includes the integration of KIEPE Electric’s trolleybus technology portfolio. By preserving specialized engineering expertise from Van Hool, the parent group maintains technical support for niche high-capacity transit platforms, electric vehicles, and trolleybus systems operating worldwide.
