A Belgian bus company coming to Morristown is expected to create nearly 640 jobs over the next five years.
Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam, Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner Bob Rolfe and Van Hool NV announced Thursday that Van Hool, a family-owned Belgian manufacturer of buses, will establish its first U.S. manufacturing operation in Morristown.
Van Hool, which also manufactures coaches and industrial vehicles, said it plans to invest more than $47 million to construct an approximately 500,000-square-foot facility in Morristown’s East Tennessee Progress Center, a Select Tennessee Certified Site.
The new plant will specifically manufacture public transit and commuter vehicles for U.S. transit agencies.
“Van Hool’s decision to establish its first U.S. manufacturing plant in Morristown and create more than 600 jobs underscores the robust pro-growth environment of job creation we’ve fostered in Tennessee,” Haslam said.
Construction of the facility will begin later this year.
“Tennessee is a leading destination for foreign direct investment and because of global businesses like Van Hool, Tennessee will lead the nation in high quality jobs opportunities,” Haslam said.
Van Hool anticipates the facility will be operational in the first quarter of 2020.
“We’re excited to announce the next step of the global growth plans of the Van Hool Group here in Morristown, Hamblen County, Tennessee,” Van Hool CEO Filip Van Hool said. “The investment of more than $47 million reaffirms the more than 30-year presence of Van Hool in the U.S. market."
According to a release, Van Hool designs and manufactures approximately 3,000 commercial vehicles and 1,400 buses and coaches annually.
“Thank you, Morristown, Hamblen County and Tennessee. We’re really looking forward to working together with you on this great project both for the local community and Van Hool,” Van Hool said.
Van Hool operates production facilities in Koningshooikt, Belgium, where it is headquartered, and Skopje, Macedonia. The company employs approximately 4,450 employees worldwide.