As the European leader in the conversion of Utility Vehicles for professionals, the Gruau Group will be present at the Rencontres Flotauto 2026 – on March 12, in Paris Le Bourget – through three of its brands dedicated to fleet transformation: Gruau, Labbé, and Sortimo. This is an unmissable stop when visiting the event.
A key meeting point for all fleet managers, the Rencontres Flotauto 2026 will be an opportunity for Gruau to present its full range of expertise and services to industry specifiers. Located at stand D35, the family group – specialists in VU and VP conversions for professionals for over 137 years – will welcome visitors seeking tailor-made mobility solutions. The teams present will be ambassadors for the group’s strengths, which range from its innovation capacity to its flexible industrial tools, as well as its commitment to quality. For fleet decision-makers, Gruau positions itself as a single point of contact, capable of designing and industrializing specific solutions, regardless of business constraints.
The Strengths of a Major Group
Innovation at the heart of solutions
Because no two vehicle fleets are alike, the ability to meet specific business requirements is a fundamental commitment for Gruau. To achieve this, the bodybuilder relies on its own design offices, comprising 120 employees, and on the G’Innov Lab, a true innovation laboratory that imagines, develops, validates usage, and then industrializes new solutions for the market.
In an approach of “opening up possibilities,” the group also organizes G’innov Days, providing immersive field experiences as close as possible to users. Gruau teams follow professionals in their daily work and co-construct concrete solutions with them. This is how a new door closing system for laundry delivery vehicles was born. Based on the observation that drivers never handle the door with their hands, the G’innov Lab developed a closing mechanism triggered by simply pressing the accelerator or brake.
Quality as the foundation of loyalty
The demand for quality has been central to the various corporate projects implemented over many years. The principle of continuous improvement prevails: the proposed solutions are tested in real-world situations before being industrialized and commercialized.
Gruau teams then monitor the user experience to ensure long-term resistance to field constraints.
This sustained proximity fosters a relationship of trust with fleet managers, based on listening and continuous adaptation to changes in their businesses. By establishing itself as a long-term partner, Gruau makes each project a lever for
sustainable loyalty.
If, despite all precautions, a problem should arise, Gruau’s after-sales service is able to intervene as quickly as possible for repair or replacement. A driver of customer loyalty, this quality commitment has also enabled Gruau to be recognized as a privileged partner by major manufacturers, to be ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certified, and to receive the Ecovadis Bronze distinction.
A high-capacity and flexible production tool, located in France and Europe
The Gruau Group carries out nearly 40,000 vehicle conversions per year across its 16 production sites. This specialization allows it to have lines dedicated to small-batch productions, as well as capacities adapted to medium series.
At Gruau, we like to say that we can launch a project for 50 vehicles per year or 50 vehicles per day. In case of particular volume or deadline constraints, several sites can be mobilized in parallel.
The family business is also committed to ‘Made in France,’ synonymous with proximity, controlled transport costs, and maintaining employment in the regions: 11 production sites are located in France and carry out the majority of the Group’s conversions.
A long-term RSS2E commitment
As a 137-year-old French industrial group, Gruau has been committed since its beginnings to implementing a sustainable growth strategy. This led to the establishment of a management approach based on Corporate Projects, designed by all employees and indicating the direction to follow every 6 years. The desire to reduce the environmental impact of its activities has always held a central place in these projects.
The latest and 7th project, Project 2030, provides clear direction in this regard: Gruau is committed to being UTILY-TERRE PAR NATURE (EARTH-FRIENDLY BY NATURE). Concretely, this translates into an RSS2E (Social, Societal, Economic, and Environmental Responsibility) approach integrated into the proposed solutions: quality and durability of fittings, use of recycled and recyclable materials, and control of energy consumption at production sites. This is a long-term approach, benefiting future generations.
The Advantages of Specialized Brands
Founded in 1889, Gruau has also grown through external acquisitions, allowing it to acquire diverse expertise, making the Group the number one multi-specialist in Utility Vehicle conversion in Europe. Within the group’s galaxy of 10 brands, Gruau positions itself as the specialist in fleet transformation.
Gruau: one brand, multiple expertises
The Gruau brand encompasses extensive know-how and has established itself as a benchmark in several areas. Its multi-expertise allows it to meet the mobility needs of the vast majority of fleets, regardless of the sector: construction, road maintenance, goods transport, last-mile delivery vehicles, refrigerated
vehicles, passenger transport, emergency vehicles, security vehicles. It also carries out specific conversions and has acquired a position as a key player in the transport of people with reduced mobility (TPMR).
Its network of 120 distributors and its production sites in France and Europe offer great flexibility and local responsiveness to professionals. Thanks to long-term trust-based relationships, Gruau benefits from privileged connections with most manufacturers, allowing it to offer a very wide range of utility vehicles.
Labbé: the benchmark for Large Volume Vans
Located in Lamballe, Labbé is the benchmark for Large Volume Van conversions.
For over 75 years, the brand has dedicated its expertise to clients by offering relevant solutions for the transport of goods and merchandise. The best illustration of its know-how is the richness of its vehicle catalog, with conversions on chassis cabs, platform cabs, and heavy goods vehicles, from 3.5 t to 26 t.
The teams have also acquired specific skills in the transport of dangerous goods, in compliance with the Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road (ADR 2023). True to the group’s service culture,
Labbé supports its clients throughout their project, from defining needs to vehicle homologation.
Sortimo: the art of custom storage
A specialist in “racking,” or custom storage solutions, Sortimo is a trusted partner for professionals, key accounts, and manufacturers. Whatever vehicle the client chooses – company car, small van, compact or large volume vans – the brand designs individualized solutions, putting innovation at the service of business needs. Modular systems, large volume drawers, cases, foam inserts for tools, mobile workstations, roof storage…, the solutions are designed to organize, secure, and quickly locate tools and consumables. All conversions are designed to withstand the intensive use demanded by discerning professionals. The Gruau group’s stand at the Rencontres Flotauto will bring together key contacts dedicated to major clients, manufacturers, and industry specifiers. Whether representing Gruau, Labbé, or Sortimo, the teams are driven by the same high standards, guided by the group’s values: customer culture, shared passion, commitment to quality, and the promise to be UTILY-TERRE PAR NATURE, supported by a voluntary and sustainable RSS2E approach.