1930
In September 1930, Antoon Verdonk — then a barber and blacksmith — became fascinated by automobiles. At the time, Veldhoven had only nine cars on its streets, but Antoon already had the vision that as the town grew, cars would become much more common.
1935
The first workshop
A property was purchased on Locht in Veldhoven, featuring a large garage that could comfortably hold two cars. His son, Nico, was ready and eager to start working alongside his father.
1937
A Devastating Fire
Tragedy struck in 1937 when the Verdonk family home was completely destroyed by fire. The family quickly searched for a new location, and the company moved to Dorpstraat 205 in Veldhoven, where a new house was built with a proper workshop and inspection pit.
1941
The war years
During World War II, operations came to a halt as the workshop was requisitioned by German soldiers for storage. After the war, Antoon Verdonk fell seriously ill, and his son Nico, only 15 years old, left vocational school to help support the family. Nico dedicated himself day and night to realizing his father’s dream.
1955
Growth and Expansion
After Nico formally joined the business in 1953 to assist in the workshop, the petrol pump at Het Broek was expanded in 1955 into a full service station with a pump island.
1978
Modernization and Recognition
Years of hard work paid off when Nico was approached by the Jonkers family, then Renault dealers in Eindhoven, to start selling Renault cars. Excited by the opportunity to secure an official dealer contract, Nico expanded the business. Alongside his first mechanic, his brothers and later his sons, John and Toon, joined the company. The business grew into a true family enterprise with 20 employees.
1980
Renault dealer
Having outgrown the Dorpstraat location, a new building was constructed on Dominee Rossweg, while the Dorpstraat premises were fully converted into a showroom. The company also expanded with Peugeot at Onze Lieve Vrouwendijk, and later Mitsubishi.
1993
Next Generation Takes Over
After several years, Nico’s brothers left the business, and in 1993, the company was taken over by his sons, Toon and John. Both brothers brought entrepreneurial spirit to the company, working daily to position the family business as a 100-year-strong automotive company. By this time, the company had grown into a multi-brand specialist, with Renault as the main brand.
2022
Bram Verdonk Joins
In 2023, following advice from Bovag, discussions began regarding the continuation of the business and potential succession within the family. Bram, the youngest son of Toon, expressed interest. Despite lacking formal technical training, Bram quickly proved his aptitude for managing the company. His fresh perspective revitalized the business, aligning the team and processes.
2026
Official Succession
From 2026, Bram officially takes over as owner of Autobedrijf Verdonk. John and Toon remain as advisors and continue to be actively involved in daily operations. Together with the team, they ensure that Autobedrijf Verdonk remains one of the top automotive companies in the region.
