NedCar
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Netherlands Car B.V. | |
 |
|
| Type | Limited Liability Company |
|---|---|
| Founded | August 1991 |
| Headquarters | Dr. Hub van Doorneweg 1, Sittard-Geleen , Netherlands |
| Key people | Makoto Ochi (Chairman & CEO) Joost Govaarts (President & COO) |
| Industry | Automaker |
| Products | Mitsubishi Colt |
| Revenue | €2.3 billion (2003) |
| Employees | 4,326 (2003) |
| Parent | Mitsubishi Motors (100%) |
| Website | NedCar.nl |
NedCar, officially Netherlands Car B.V. and a subsidiary of Mitsubishi Motors, is the only large-scale automaker in the Netherlands. Based in Born on a 927,000 m2 site, it has a capacity of approximately 200,000 vehicles,[1] and produced its millionth vehicle, a Mitsubishi Space Star, on October 4, 2000. The factory itself has produced more than 4.5 million cars since 1967.[1][2]
Contents |
[edit] History
The factory was founded in 1967 by the former Van Doorne's Automobiel Fabriek (DAF), and continued after the takeover of its parent by Volvo in 1972–75. When financial difficulties threatened to close it down in the early 1990s the government stepped in to ensure its survival. A joint venture between the Dutch State, Volvo and Mitsubishi Motors began in August 1991, although it was 1996 before the name was officially changed from Volvo Car B.V. to Netherlands Car B.V. On February 15, 1999 the Dutch government sold its shares to its two partners, who then owned 50 percent each. Later, on March 30, 2001, Volvo sold its shares to Mitsubishi, who now owns 100 percent.[3] The last Volvo automobiles were built in 2004.
Currently NedCar produces one vehicle, the Mitsubishi Colt, which has been built since 2004.[4] It also produced the Colt's sister vehicle, the Smart Forfour, for DaimlerChrysler until production ceased in mid-2006. The plant's long-term survival has been in question since 2001, when then Mitsubishi Motors Chief Operating Officer Rolf Eckrodt stated that its annual vehicle production capacity had to increase to 280,000 if it wished to remain economically viable.[5] Following industrial action in 2005 protesting the discontinuation of the Smart Forfour Mitsubishi confirmed its commitment to keeping the factory open, but only as far as the end of the current Colt's life cycle in 2009.[6] In return there would be no redundancies before April 2007, although one trade union, De Unie, admitted it was resigned to "mass layoffs" after that date.[7] A delegation headed by former DAF Trucks CEO Cor Baan is actively seeking third-party subcontract work for the plant as an alternative utilisation of capacity.[8]
[edit] Production
[edit] Current models
- Mitsubishi Colt/CZ3 (2004–present)
[edit] Historic models
- DAF 66 (1972–75)
- Volvo 66 (1975–80)
- Volvo 340/360 (1976–91)
- Volvo 480 (1986–95)
- Volvo 440/460 (1987–97)
- Volvo S40/V40 (1995–2004)
- Mitsubishi Carisma (1995–2004)
- Mitsubishi Space Star (1998–2005)
- Smart Forfour (2004–06)
[edit] Annual output, 1992–2005
| Year | Units | Models |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | 94,019 | Volvo 440/460, Volvo 480 |
| 1993 | 80,246 | Volvo 440/460, Volvo 480 |
| 1994 | 92,044 | Volvo 440/460, Volvo 480 |
| 1995 | 98,454 | Volvo 440/460, Volvo 480, Volvo S40/V40, Mitsubishi Carisma |
| 1996 | 145,090 | Volvo 440/460, Volvo S40/V40, Mitsubishi Carisma |
| 1997 | 197,225 | Volvo 440/460, Volvo S40/V40, Mitsubishi Carisma |
| 1998 | 242,804 | Volvo S40/V40, Mitsubishi Carisma, Mitsubishi Space Star |
| 1999 | 262,196 | Volvo S40/V40, Mitsubishi Carisma, Mitsubishi Space Star |
| 2000 | 214,974 | Volvo S40/V40, Mitsubishi Carisma, Mitsubishi Space Star |
| 2001 | 189,188 | Volvo S40/V40, Mitsubishi Carisma, Mitsubishi Space Star |
| 2002 | 182,368 | Volvo S40/V40, Mitsubishi Carisma, Mitsubishi Space Star |
| 2003 | 163,130 | Volvo S40/V40, Mitsubishi Carisma, Mitsubishi Space Star |
| 2004 | 187,600 | Volvo S40/V40, Mitsubishi Carisma, Mitsubishi Colt, Mitsubishi Space Star, Smart Forfour |
| 2005 | 115,121 | Mitsubishi Colt, Mitsubishi Space Star, Smart Forfour |
| 2006 | - | Mitsubishi Colt/CZ3, Smart Forfour |
| 2007 | - | Mitsubishi Colt/CZ3 |
(Source: "Key facts and figures", Nedcar official site)
[edit] References
- ^ a b "Key facts and figures", Nedcar official site
- ^ "1,000,000th NedCar car produced", Mitsubishi Motors press release, October 4, 2000
- ^ "Netherlands Car B.V. to become MMC subsidiary after acquisition of additional shares", Mitsubishi Motors press release, April 4, 2001
- ^ "Mitsubishi Motors to Unveil New European Colt at Geneva Motor Show", Mitsubishi Motors press release, January 26, 2004
- ^ "NedCar production target", Meuse-Rhine Journal, September 22, 2001
- ^ "Strike at Mitsubishi factory", 4Car, April 21, 2006
- ^ "Agreement ends strikes at NedCar", Expatica.com, April 25, 2006
- ^ "A brief history", NedCar.nl website
