BMW joins the growing list of manufacturers closing its European factories due to the corona crisis.
The impact of the corona crisis on everyday life and industry in Europe is getting bigger and bigger. After the Volkswagen Group, among others, announced that European production would be temporarily shut down, BMW will now also follow suit. The German company today announced during its annual press conference that it will shut down European factories “at the end of the week.” The factory in the African town of Rosslyn will then also stop production. BMW CEO Oliver Zipse said in an official statement: “We take our responsibility seriously, both when it comes to the safety and health of our staff, and when it comes to achieving a proper income balance.”
Of course BMW also has Dutch production. An important part of the production of Mini and the construction of the BMW X1 are transferred to VDL Nedcar in Born. This decision by BMW therefore seems to automatically mean that production in Born is at least partly halted. In an initial response to Techzle, VDL announced that there are currently busy consultations. Both BNR and the Eindhovens Dagblad learn from VDL that work will continue there for the time being.