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HESS Belgium supports around 330 Exqui.City buses across Europe and builds retrofit business

By Eve

HESS Belgium has been set up as a service and expertise centre, bringing together former Van Hool employees after the manufacturer's bankruptcy. Its first pillar is continued support for around 330 Exqui.City buses in operation across Europe, with interventions in Norway, Sweden, France and other countries. The second pillar is local specialised maintenance, including major repairs such as chassis work and software updates, and a third pillar is retrofits, according to an interview with Geert Van Hecke, HESS Key Account Manager International and Manager HESS Belgium.

Why it matters

Operators running Exqui.City fleets now have a named route for ongoing support and specialist maintenance after Van Hool's bankruptcy, which reduces stranded asset risk. The move into retrofits also points to another option for fleet owners weighing life extension against new vehicle purchases.

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Original title
“Supporting 330 Exqui.City buses across Europe, providing local maintenance and expanding into retrofits: HESS Belgium’s strategy explained”
Published
30 October 2026

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