From bare chassis to driving innovation: how one engineer makes the difference at VDL Bus

Mathias has been working on the production floor at VDL Bus for two years. Not from an ivory tower, but with safety shoes on and hands out. His mission: to build electric buses faster, smarter and more scalable.

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The key between engineering and production is called Mathias

As a process engineer and automotive engineering expert at Brightnewday , Mathias has been the key between engineering and production at VDL Bus for the past two years. He is responsible for electrical integration, drafting work instructions and solving production problems. In a complex environment where every customer wants a different bus, Mathias ensures structure, optimization and progress every day. His hands-on approach is essential for scaling up VDL's electric bus production.

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Bus construction is customization

VDL wanted to produce its electric buses faster and more efficiently. But the processes were young, production was in its infancy and customer demand was diverse. Without a bridge between design and the shop floor, technical problems could bring the entire line to a halt. And that while the pressure was on: VDL is the last bus manufacturing company in the Benelux.

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A bus must also move forward during construction

Enter Mathias. He became the link between engineering and production. Based on his experience at ASML and his passion for automotive engineering, he immediately jumped into the deep end. He wrote work instructions, supported mechanics on the floor and optimized the assembly process. All with one goal: less downtime, more output. His approach? Look, analyze, solve and always together with the people who have to do it.

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From 2 to 6 buses per week

When he started, one to two buses a week rolled off the line. Today, there are six. Mathias helped make the process not only more efficient, but also more robust and scalable. He became an indispensable player on the production team, someone people count on. His work ensures that electric mobility remains a reality in the Netherlands, built on home soil.

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Every bus ready on time

For a Danish client, a series of buses with rock-hard deadlines had to be delivered. Everything was under pressure. "We couldn't allow a day's delay," Mathias explains. "So we worked very hard together, from engineering to floor. And we made it. Every bus finished on time. That's satisfying."

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Complexity keeps us on our toes

"I remain fascinated because every bus is different," Mathias says. "Every customer demands something new. That complexity keeps me on my toes. But what gives me the most satisfaction? When I see that it works. That we have built something that works. And that everyone in the process feels valued."

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Technology Roadmap: Brightnewday invests in its own expertise

Brightnewday is developing its own Technology Roadmap. As a technology company, you need to invest in building your own knowledge around the core themes you work in – that’s how you stay ahead. For the automotive category, this means gaining insights by exploring the use of hydrogen as an energy carrier for the future of mobility. In this area, engineer Mathias takes the lead for the Brightnewday team, driven by his passion for and expertise in the sector.

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Brightnewday in one case? Absolutely.

Mathias proves what Brightnewday is: entrepreneurial (we build future-oriented solutions), warm (we work with people, not over their heads), pure (no frills, just honest craftsmanship), and expert (with expertise and a solid dose of common sense).