‘Decisive phase’ in negotiations
Good news for VDL Nedcar: the car factory in Born in Limburg can continue to produce cars for BMW for four months longer. The province of Limburg makes this known. In the meantime, negotiations for a new client are entering ‘a decisive phase’.
VDL Nedcar has concluded a new agreement with BMW in which both parties have agreed on a new end date. Previously, the Dutch production of BMWs and Minis would stop on November 1, 2023, now this end date has been shifted to March 1, 2024. That gives the car factory at least some extra air to continue searching for a new client.
Those negotiations are entering ‘a decisive phase’, VDL Nedcar informed the province. VDL has three scenarios in mind. “In addition to a future as an independent car manufacturer for one large client or for several smaller clients, VDL Nedcar is working on a third scenario,” said Limburg deputy Stephen Satijn of economics. “VDL Nedcar could in its own words develop into a center for mobility and innovation.” According to VDL, such a center for mobility and innovation could include the production of various types of vehicles. It could build the car factory “possibly partly in smaller series”, “combined with other activities, such as innovations in the field of electrification, connectivity, autonomous driving and services”, according to Satijn. “In the company’s opinion, this broadening of activities ensures that VDL Nedcar becomes and remains more attractive as an independent car manufacturer.”
Which client VDL Nedcar may be working with is still shrouded in mystery. An earlier deal with the American start-up Canoo failed, it is rumored that VDL Nedcar is now in talks with Rivian to set up a European production line. It’s been quiet around here for a while. In any case, VDL Nedcar has already started expanding the factory with a view to the arrival of a new client.
– Thanks for information from Autoweek.nl