MEET The Founders, Kent and Zach AHLEEN

Van America was built on decades of real-world manufacturing experience, motorsports discipline, and life spent on the road. Every vehicle we produce reflects that foundation.

Kent Ahleen brings decades of hands-on experience in fabrication, manufacturing, and mechanical design. At 19, he launched his first business, manufacturing trailers for dealers across multiple states, later expanding into custom race trailers while continuing his education. After completing school and extensive industry training, Kent sold the trailer business and moved into high-precision fabrication, producing components and systems for aerospace, medical equipment, computer chassis, and military contracts, Industries where quality, tight tolerances, and accountability are critical.

Motorsports have always played an important role in Kent’s life. From snowmobile racing as a young boy to motorcycle racing as an adult, that passion naturally carried over to his sons. In addition to their shared interest in motorsports, Kent worked closely with his youngest son, Zach, on fabrication projects from an early age, passing along both technical skills and a deep understanding of how things should be built. This combination of hands-on manufacturing experience and performance-driven thinking became fundamental to their approach to vehicle design and what ultimately sets Van America apart.

Zach progressed rapidly in motorsports, advancing to professional motocross and off-road racing. By age 14, he had signed a factory rider contract with Yamaha. Competing at that level required extensive travel and countless hours on the road in a van to train and develop alongside top riders. Throughout his racing career, Kent served as both father and trainer, working closely with Zach to help him reach the professional level.

After retiring from professional racing, Zach transitioned into the design and sales field, where he built a highly successful career. In late 2020, he approached Kent with an idea: combine their shared experience in fabrication, motorsports, and life on the road to build truly high-quality custom vans. Together, they designed and engineered their first builds—without shortcuts.

Soon after completing those early vans, Mercedes-Benz corporate representatives discovered their work through a local dealership and invited Kent and Zach to participate in the Mercedes-Benz Expert Upfit Program, along with an immediate request to build a show van for Mercedes-Benz USA. It was an opportunity they hadn’t sought, but one that clearly confirmed they were on the right path. From that moment on, they committed fully to building Van America.

Today, Van America designs and manufactures some of the highest-quality adventure, passenger, mobility/ADA, and moto vans on the market. We remain a family-owned, hands-on manufacturing company focused on craftsmanship, safety, long-term reliability, exceptional fit and finish, building vehicles we are proud to put our name on.

Our Difference

We don’t come from a background of assembling kits or following trends. We come from decades of manufacturing, engineering, and real-world use. That experience shapes every decision we make, from structural design and component selection to how our vans perform years down the road.

Every Van America build is engineered with intent, constructed with care, and held to standards we would expect if we were the ones relying on it every day.

Our Philosophy

We believe a great vehicle is built, not assembled.
Every van we produce is engineered with purpose, constructed with care, and designed to perform, last, and be relied upon on the road, off the grid, and throughout every stage of ownership.

Built with purpose. Trusted for life.
Premium adventure, mobility, and moto vans, engineered, not assembled.