2023-07-07 13:48:37
It’s good news with a bitter edge. VDL Nedcar may still be able to continue to exist as a full-fledged car factory with room for a maximum of 3000 employees. Parent company VDL has signed a letter of intent with a customer for the construction of cars. The company has not yet disclosed who that customer is.
Such a statement means no more than that both companies are starting a ‘process to reach a contract’, says VDL spokesman Miel Timmers. The deadline is in the fourth quarter, so more will become clear following October. Timmers is not allowed to say more because of confidentiality agreements signed by both companies. If it comes to a contract, cars will roll off the production line once more at Nedcar from mid-2026. “Very real passenger cars”, emphasizes Timmers.
Until now, Nedcar has been working on behalf of BMW. The 3800 employees assemble cars of the Mini brand, but that contract expires on March 1, 2024. The fact that their employer is considering producing city trolleys and batteries in their factory hurt the employees.
If VDL succeeds in winning the contract with the new customer, that would be good news for the factory. Meanwhile, the announced reorganization is proceeding as planned. In November, the first 1800 people, mainly production personnel, will leave. The second blow will follow in April next year.
Social plan
Ron Peters of the FNV trade union therefore reacts resignedly to the signing of the letter of intent. He is especially pleased with other news: that the social plan has been signed. VDL Nedcar employees have stopped working a few times in recent months to enforce better conditions. That worked, says Peters. “The severance pay has been significantly increased and the employees are now satisfied.” More than 90 percent of FNV members agreed with the social plan.
Timmers thinks that the new contract will initially provide employment for regarding 70 people. They must then help adjust the production lines. Such a process will take at least a year, he expects. If the potential customer manages to ‘sell a lot of cars between now and 2026’, the new contract will provide work for around 3,000 people.
VDL says it is still in talks with ElectricBrands, a company that makes small trolleys for urban transport. It also maintains contact with Rivian, an American company that makes electric SUVs. In addition, VDL plans to share part of the own business from Helmond and Venlo to Born and wants to assemble batteries on the factory site.
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The time when Nedcar played for Sinterklaas is over for good in Born
The announced mass layoffs at VDL Nedcar hurt in Born. Yet pride in the company was already waning in the Limburg village.
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