VDL Nedcar will continue making the current-generation model.
The Mini Countryman is produced at VDL Nedcar’s plant in the Netherlands since 2016. Since 1967, the third-party vehicle assembly facility has been producing a variety of car brands, including DAF, Volvo and Smart. It also produces approximately 5.5 million cars from Mitsubishi, Smart, Mitsubishi, DAF and Mini. When the factory is in operation in two shifts, it can produce 200,000 cars annually.
One car brand will be removed from the list due to the coronavirus pandemic. VDL Nedcar released the following information. BMW Mini’s parent company has not yet sent a follow up order to the Countryman.
VDL Nedcar won’t receive a follow up order from BMW Group for the new Mini Countryman in the long-term. The release stated that BMW had decided to make the new Mini Countryman’s successor in-house due to disruptive developments and the corona pandemic.
The second-generation Countryman’s successor will be manufactured by BMW. The Countryman just had a mid-cycle upgrade this year. Therefore, the next-generation model will be out after a few years.
The Countryman is produced at BMW’s international assembly plants located in India, Malaysia and Indonesia. All models of the crossover will be manufactured by BMW and not by a third-party supplier, following the VDL Nedcar withdrawal.
VDL Nedcar is working hard to maintain the employment at its current plant. This will be affected by BMW’s withdrawal. BMW states that VDL Nedcar’s competitiveness, quality, reliability in delivery, and affordability were not the reasons for the decision.