When you drive onto the vast Ghistelinck Waregem site, it’s almost hard to
believe that the late Paul Ghistelinck once started the business with a modest trade in American military vehicles. In the 1950s, the entrepreneur established a relationship with Mercedes-Benz, secured a dealership contract, significantly expanded the company, and met Vincent Yserbyt—then a young salesman with a passion for the brand. Vincent worked his way up to Managing Director, scraped together his savings and the necessary venture capital, and bought the company from Paul’s son in 2006.
Twenty years later, Ghistelinck Automotive has become a giant in the transportation sector. On the company’s 75th anniversary, the numbers speak for themselves: 730 employees, 39 branches, no fewer than 750 trucks sold per year, and more than 10,800 new and used cars. Through smart strategic decisions, acquisitions, and substantial investments, Vincent is making his business future-proof. “In 2026, we’ll welcome customers to a brand-new showroom: a unique Mercedes-Benz concept that offers an unforgettable experience and helps them even better in choosing the right vehicle.”
Vincent also uses the latest technology in the workshops to get customers back on the road faster. “Anyone who pulls in for maintenance goes through a vehicle scanner that diagnoses the vehicle. You get information instantly about necessary updates, maintenance, and repairs, the condition of the bodywork, tire tread depth, and more… This way, maintenance is always more thorough and faster—a win-win for customers.”
At Ghistelinck, the future of transportation naturally lies in the vehicles themselves. An eActros 600—the impressive, all-electric truck from Mercedes-Benz, also named “Truck of the Year”—pulls up in front of us. Dematra also has one of these in its fleet, along with two other eActros models. Vincent: “When I applied for a job at Paul Ghistelinck in 1988, it was because of Mercedes. I’ve been passionate about the brand since I was a child. The brand is in a class of its own: you can see that in the smallest details, even in this truck. The cab design, the sound system, the sophisticated safety systems—all state-of-the-art. They’re fantastic for drivers to drive.”
Mercedes' electric trucks arein a class of their own at
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Vincent is proud to help companies like Dematra become more sustainable and operate emission-free, but he does have one caveat regarding the electrification of the Belgian logistics sector: “The future of transportation isn’t solely electric, but rather a mix of different technologies: hydrogen-powered engines, electric vehicles, and internal combustion engines that comply with the Euro 7 emissions standard. We provide each customer with a customized solution based on their specific industry—the most tax-efficient option isn’t necessarily the right one.”
Although 2023 and 2024 were strong years for Ghistelinck, Vincent is not blind to the challenges his company faces. “We want more control over our supply chains, which is why we’re focusing on vertical integration. At the European level, our truck operations still have room to grow. And we support entrepreneurs who want to establish operations in northern France.”
“The European auto industry is struggling,” he continues. “Car production is moving to Asia, regulations are becoming increasingly strict and complex, labor and energy costs are gradually becoming unaffordable, and in places like the U.S., there’s a more favorable business climate.” Still, Vincent remains optimistic. “I believe in balance. Europe remains the most stable continent and has great resilience and expertise: policymakers will succeed in restoring the balance and stimulating entrepreneurship once again.
We’re stronger here than we think.”
After all, according to Vincent, the company’s continued growth is due not only to smart strategic choices, but also to its people. “Miracles happen here every day. For example: in 2023, Armistice Day fell on a Saturday—on a holiday like that, it’s impossible to get anything done, and I was already bracing myself for the worst. At 4 p.m., I suddenly got a call from a Polish customer whose truck driver was stranded in Calais with a broken starter. People in both Belgium and France then moved heaven and earth—and covered a lot of kilometers—to quickly get a replacement part to Calais and repair the truck. That driver was able to take the tunnel to
the UK that very same day.”
We want to have more control over our supply chains, which is why we are focusing on vertical integration.
“I have a thousand examples of that kind of dedication,” he concludes. “Those who build trust are rewarded with loyalty. That’s how you develop long-term relationships, and customers become partners. Dematra is no exception, by the way—we’ve been working together for more than 50 years, and we hope to continue doing so for many more years to come.”
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