BMW has canceled the contract with VDL Nedcar to build BMWs and Minis in Born in Limburg after 2023. As a result, the future of the only car factory in the Netherlands became uncertain again, because it is still unclear what BMW will do with the production of the Minis in Born, another brand of the German car group after 2022. In the meantime, it became known in the FD that the Chinese car giant SAIC is interested in car production at VDL Nedcar if its export brand MG is very successful on the European market.
In Born production fell to more than 174.000 cars last year, compared to 211.660 in the peak year 2018. Such a step is then 'an option', says SAIC's European CEO, Matt Lei, in conversation with The Financial Daily. The abbreviation SAIC stands for Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation. SAIC Motor was founded and over the years has grown into a company of enormous size.
SAIC Motor not only builds cars of its own brands (MG, Roewe and Maxus) but also cars for Volkswagen, Iveco and General Motors, among others. The fact that a Chinese company might be able to help VDL in Born with the production of cars is a better experience with the country than last year. Bus builder VDL Groep lost a bus order to another Chinese company, which was not well received by members of the House of Representatives and public opinion at the time. The Chinese BYD Auto, a car manufacturer headquartered in Shenzhen, China, started with an important order from Keolis.
Also read: BMW wants to end its contract with VDL Nedcar for the construction of the BMW X1B
