Photo: carpix
It seems that Mitsubishi’s ‘goal’, if we can call it that, to start making smaller and more fuel efficient cars, as well as concentrating on less developed markets where it plans to be a major player right from the start. In order to facilitate this shift, Mitsubishi will be selling its one and only European production location, the ‘Nedcar’ plant, in Holland.
The buyer? Well, according to autocar.co.uk, Dutch bus manufacturer VDL Group has acquired the plant for €1, with the commitment not to fire any of the 1500 workers. Now, VDL is reportedly in talks with BMW, to secure a deal with the Bavarian manufacturer, to produce the next generation MINI Countryman, moving production from Magna’s Austrian plant, in Graz.
This move by Mitsubishi is not sudden, however, as the Japanese carmaker confirmed that it would be ceasing the European production at the Nedcar plant, the birth place for the Colt and Outlander. However, after reducing its output from 200,000 to 50,000 units per year, the Dutch plant only accounted for around 5% of Mitsubishi’s entire production capacity of 1.1-million units, so its lost capacity can easily be recovered by the automaker’s numerous other plants, scattered around the world.
This move by Mitsubishi is not sudden, however, as the Japanese carmaker confirmed that it would be ceasing the European production at the Nedcar plant, the birth place for the Colt and Outlander. However, after reducing its output from 200,000 to 50,000 units per year, the Dutch plant only accounted for around 5% of Mitsubishi’s entire production capacity of 1.1-million units, so its lost capacity can easily be recovered by the automaker’s numerous other plants, scattered around the world.
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