Various options
There is a glimmer of hope again for VDL Nedcar and part of its workforce. According to VDL, there are a few potential clients with specific interest. In addition, there are already various plans to continue working in Born.
VDL is in talks with several parties to make cars for them at Nedcar in Born. In some cases, that interest is concrete, VDL said on Thursday. “We are confident that we will probably be able to sign a partnership or contract for the construction of cars in the short term,” said VDL in an internal statement. Eindhovens Dagblad previously reported. “This can be a complete vehicle, or the assembly of a partially built car or body.”
VDL informed the employees about this on Thursday, although no concrete brands or dates are mentioned. Nedcar is currently building Minis on behalf of the BMW Group, but that contract expires early next year. There is no new client yet, which makes mass redundancies seem inevitable. As of 1 November, more than 1,800 of the total of 3,950 Nedcar employees will lose their jobs, VDL previously announced. VDL is now looking for ways to keep as many of the remaining 2,100 jobs as possible after the contract with BMW ends in March 2024. It will not be possible to fill the gap that will arise in March.
Many plans include a longer term. For example, VDL is committed to further cooperation with the German company ElectricBrands, which wants to have the electric city car Evetta and the modular Xbus produced in Born. For the time being, these are modest numbers that can roll off the production line in Born. In addition, parts of VDL will be moved to Born, such as VDL Bus Venlo, which will be housed in a Nedcar hall from 1 January. The activity will then be renamed VDL Special Vehicles. VDL expects the employment of this part in Born to grow from 120 to approximately 500 employees in a few years. VDL has also entered into a partnership with the company Gotec Brake Disc Coating (GBDC) for coating brake discs in Born and a demo line is in use in Born to assemble batteries. VDL is talking to car and intermediate builders about having their batteries assembled in Born.
– Thanks for information from Autoweek.nl