Van Jaarsveld PGH and Van den Pol have a passion for technology.

That Van Jaarsveld PGH values ​​its history is evident from the mini-museum in the Montfoort showroom. “We cherish our history; customers appreciate that,” says director Gerwin van Jaarsveld, the third generation in the family business.

Same employer

Both Van Jaarsveld and Van den Pol are celebrating their 90th anniversary. “Before they started, Wim van den Pol’s grandfather and mine worked at the same company owned by Mr. NJ Post in Montfoort. In my grandfather’s workshop, the focus was mainly on repairing agricultural machinery. There weren’t many cars yet.”

Bitten by the lion

After the Second World War, the garage business took off. “The first dealership was Simca. Simca became Crushler France and later Talbot, which came under the wing of Peugeot in 1982. After this merger, Peugeot became our core business.” Van Jaarsveld has been a dealer of the French brand since 1982. Gerwin took over the reins from his father in 2002. “Peugeot is truly in our DNA. We call that being bitten by the lion.”

Always mobile

Van Jaarsveld has a long-standing relationship with many customers. “That certainly applies to Van den Pol. For decades, their fleet has consisted primarily of Peugeot commercial vehicles, for which we also provide maintenance. The underlying agreements are concise and clear. Van den Pol knows exactly where they stand from the first to the last kilometer.” Mechanics bring their vehicles in for a service at the end of the workday. “Replacement transport is ready then, so they are always mobile.”

Good grounds

With Van den Pol as our electrical engineering partner, the business relationship is reciprocal. “They are assisting with making our company building more sustainable, including with solar panels and LED lighting. Costs and payback periods are mapped out in advance. This allows us to making decisions on good grounds. We support Van den Pol in the same way with investments in their vehicle fleet. Reducing CO2 emissions is an important consideration in this regard.”

Down-to-earth go-getters

The two companies celebrating their anniversaries share the same mentality. “We are down-to-earth and like to get things done,” states Gerwin. “Employees have a passion for technology, even if the application is different. Although: due to the rise of electric cars, we now have electricians working for us too.” Employment periods are long. “One of the colleagues has been working here for almost fifty years, while his brother has been employed by Van den Pol for virtually his entire life. Furthermore, I meet Wim regularly, including on the board of the local business association. We brainstorm about entrepreneurship and the challenges involved. As you can see, there are numerous connections. That is also why I am proud of our long-standing collaboration.”

The first electric Peugeot in 2011 prompted a joint initiative. “We both equipped our companies with solar panels and purchased one of those electric Peugeot iOns. We had them painted in our own company colors,” Gerwin recalls. “To highlight everyone’s expertise, the cars were given the slogan ‘We drive and do business on solar energy.’”