Canoo sees no point in producing its electric cars at VDL Nedcar in Born in Limburg, after all. ANP reports this on the basis of documents that Canoo has submitted to the American stock market watchdog.
VDL Nedcar jumped into the air when it found a new customer in the American start-up Canoo. By the end of 2023, no more BMWs and Minis will see the light of day in Born and with Canoo as a new customer, the Limburg car factory seemed to have a bright future. Leek, indeed. In November it became clear that a future in which Canoo electric vehicles leave the factory gates in Born would be in question. ANP reports that Canoo has submitted documents to the American stock market watchdog in which it officially indicates that building cars at VDL Nedcar is no longer an option.
This would mean that the provisional agreement that Canoo and VDL Nedcar have will not be converted into a definitive one. Another blow for the Dutch company. Canoo initially planned to build cars in Born from 2022 to 2028. In November, however, Canoo CEO Tony Aquila indicated during a presentation of financial figures that the company prefers to build its cars in its home country of the United States. VDL Nedcar would be nothing but a kind of ‘back-up’. The cyber attack that briefly paralyzed VDL Nedcar in October this year may also have played a role in Canoo’s decision.
In a response to ANP, VDL Nedcar reports that “it is in talks with Canoo to shape the collaboration. We take all the time we need to do that.” VDL does not want to respond to Canoo’s statement in the document. The American manufacturer Rivian has plans for European production and has recently also officially established itself in the Netherlands. That too could become interesting for VDL Nedcar.
– Thanks for information from Autoweek.nl