VDL Bova

VDL Bova was a luxury coachbuilder based in Eindhoven, in The Netherlands which began building coaches in 1931. In particular, it is well known for the Bova Futura, a streamlined coach usually powered by a DAF engine, which was first introduced in the 1980s and is still in production as of 2018 as the VDL Futura.[1]

VDL Bova
IndustryAutomotive
Founded1931
Defunct2010
SuccessorVDL Bus & Coach
Headquarters
Eindhoven
,
The Netherlands
ProductsBuses
ParentVDL Groep
Websitewww.vdlbova.nl
Eurolines Bova Futura in May 2010
Bova Lexio in September 2012

In 1878 Jacob D. Bots founded a timber business in Valkenswaard. When he died, he left the business to his eldest son Simon who first introduced the name Bova, which was derived from Bots Valkenswaard.[2]

In 1931 the company began building coaches, and in 1969 introduced the Benelux, a self-supporting integral coach.[3] The company was purchased by VDL Groep in 2003, who also owned the Berkhof, Jonckheere and VDL Bus Chassis brands.[4] From 2010 the individual brands were discontinued and VDL Bova became part of VDL Bus & Coach.

Products

Integral Buses and Coaches
  • Benelux (coach/interurban, replaced by Europa)
  • Europa (coach, replaced by Futura)
  • Futura (coach/interurban, replaced by VDL Futura 2)
  • Magiq (coach, derivative of Futura, replaced by VDL Futura 2)
  • X-press (low-floor bus with rear engine, only 16 built in 1980)

Bus and Coach Chassis
  • Calypso (coach, with Europa underframe and Duple bodywork)

Bus and Coach Bodywork

Initially Bova built bus bodywork on a variety of chassis, but switched to building integral vehicles in the early 1970s. After becoming part of VDL Groep some chassis/bodywork combinations of DAF/Berkhof heritage were sold as complete vehicles under the VDL Bova name:

  • Lexio (interurban bus based on VDL SD400 chassis, replaced by VDL Citea)
  • Synergy (double-deck coach based on VDL SBR4000 chassis, rebadged from Berkhof Axial 100. Replaced by VDL Futura FDD2)

References
  1. Futura VDL Bus & Coach
  2. History Bova Futura
  3. Core activities VDL Bova
  4. VDL Groep koopt busbouwer Bova NRC Handelsblad 6 May 2003 (in Dutch)
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