VDL Bova

VDL Bova was a Dutch builder of coaches. They were founded in 1878 and were based in Eindhoven, in The Netherlands,.

In 2010, VDL Bova became part of VDL Bus & Coach.

In 1878 Jacob D. Bots founded a timber company in Valkenswaard. When Jacob died, he left the business to his eldest son Simon who used the name Bova.^[1]

In 1931 Bova started building coaches.

In 2003, Bova was purchased by the VDL Groep, VDL Groep also owned bus and coach builders Berkhof, Jonckheere and VDL Bus Chassis.^[2]

In 2010, VDL Bova, VDL Berkhof and VDL Jonckheere were merged into one company called VDL Bus & Coach.

• Benelux^[3] (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)

• Calypso (coach, with Europa underframe and Duple 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)

• Media related to Bova vehicles at Wikimedia Commons
• Bova website