VDL Nedcar builds the millionth car for BMW Group

VDL Nedcar, the Netherlands' only car factory where series production for third parties takes place, has today produced the millionth car for client BMW Group. Together with the more than 4,000 employees of the car factory in Born, Limburg, today marked this milestone.

Four different models

Since the reopening of VDL Nedcar on 17 July 2014, the factory has built four different models for BMW Group: the MINI 3-door (since 2014), the MINI Convertible (since 2015), the MINI Countryman (since 2016), including the MINI Countryman Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle (since March 2017) and the BMW X1 (since August 2017).

With the production of the one million vehicles built by VDL Nedcar for the BMW Group, a total of 34,000 man-years of employment are involved.  

'Performance of the century'

Director John van Soerland of VDL Nedcar: “Building a million cars for a premium brand like BMW certainly says a lot about the craftsmanship of our employees. Since the collaboration with BMW Group was initiated, eight years ago, our employees in Born have excelled in quality, flexibility, and delivery reliability. This milestone is a feat of considerable magnitude and top-tier craftsmanship that we can all be justly proud of.”

'Impressive'

Director Frank Bachmann of the BMW Group factory in Regensburg: “The development of VDL Nedcar is impressive in terms of performance and reliability, and the professional way in which the factory builds our cars. That is something VDL Nedcar and its employees can be proud of.”

About VDL Nedcar

VDL Nedcar in Born is an independent car manufacturer that produces cars on behalf of third parties. It is the only large car factory in the Netherlands that has been part of VDL Groep in Eindhoven since late 2012. Currently, it employs 4,200 staff. The factory has a capacity to produce up to 200,000 cars per year, based on two-shift operations. VDL Nedcar utilises a highly automated production process (1,400 industrial robots). Since its inception in 1967, over 5.7 million cars (DAF, Volvo, Smart, Mitsubishi, MINI, BMW) have rolled off the production line in Born. Currently, VDL Nedcar produces the MINI Cabrio, the MINI Countryman, and the BMW X1, with the PHEV variant also being produced for the MINI Countryman.