Rijswijk/Munich. As of August 2017, VDL Nedcar in
Born in the Netherlands will begin production of the BMW X1. The move
was jointly announced today by the BMW Group and the VDL Group. VDL
Nedcar will share production of the BMW X1 for the world market with
BMW Group Plant Regensburg. VDL Nedcar has built three MINI models in
Born since 2014.The BMW X1 will be the fourth BMW Group model to roll
off the production lines at VDL Nedcar.
Strong global demand for the BMW X1 requires additional capacity to
supplement production at the BMW Group plant in Regensburg, where the
second generation of this successful model has been manufactured since
July 2015. With eight different models built on a single line,
production volumes at BMW Group Plant Regensburg have risen
significantly in recent years. As a consequence of this successful
growth, the plant will share BMW X1 production with VDL Nedcar. Over
its lifecycle, the main volume of the BMW X1 will still be produced in
Regensburg, however.
BMW Group Plant Regensburg and VDL Nedcar are partner plants since
early 2014 and have established a close and successful collaboration.
VDL Nedcar has many years of experience manufacturing high-quality
cars and is a trusted and reliable partner for the BMW Group
production network. The involvement of VDL Nedcar as a contract
manufacturer gives the BMW Group the flexibility to respond quickly to
market demand for the BMW X1.
Peter Haug, Marketing Director of BMW Group Netherlands: “In the
Netherlands, demand for BMW X models has been very strong, especially
for the BMW X1. Last year, a total of 1,946 units were registered,
making it the best sales result since the first generation was
launched in 2009. In 2016, no less than 62.2 percent of all X models
sold in the Netherlands (3,131 in total) were BMW X1s, which means
that one in six BMW models sold was a BMW X1.”
Strong cooperation
Since 2014, VDL Nedcar has produced various MINI models, starting
with the three-door MINI in split production with BMW Group Plant
Oxford. The second model, the MINI Convertible, is exclusively built
in Born. On 2 November 2016, VDL Nedcar also began exclusive
production of the new MINI Countryman. In March 2017, VDL Nedcar will
start production of the new MINI Cooper S E Countryman ALL4, MINI’s
first plug-in hybrid, and the sporty MINI John Cooper Works Countryman
with 170 kW (231 hp).
BMW X models popular worldwide
In 2016, BMW sold a total of 2,003,359 vehicles (an increase of 5.2
per cent compared to 2015), of which 644,922 were X models (an
increase of 22.3 per cent compared to 2015). One in three BMW models
sold in 2016 was an X model.