VDL Nedcar to build electric Mini and maybe some other electric cars as well

Production of the world’s first convertible with a pure electric drive, the MINI Cabrio Electric, will come to carmaker VDL Nedcar in Born in April 2023. Nedcar produces this limited edition model for the BMW Group. In addition, a letter of intent has been signed with German electric vehicle manufacturer ElectricBrands. The intent is to build two of its models. VDL Nedcar reports this in a press release. 

VDL Nedcar sees the received order as a vote of confidence in VDL’s electric competencies. Where normally one to two years is usual to build up a production line, VDL Nedcar’s employees completed this job in just six months. Earlier, with a ten-year contract running from 2014, VDL built more than a million cars for BMW Group. 

ElectricBrands

VDL Nedcar is in constructive talks with several interested parties. including ElectricBrands, to continue its activities as an independent car manufacturer. These talks involve bringing two models into production in Born: the e-city car Evetta and the modular XBUS. 

The plan is for the first Evetta to be produced in Born in the second quarter of 2024, and the first XBUS a year later. The associated production volume depends on sales numbers. For the XBUS, ElectricBrands already has orders for about 16,000 vehicles, and for the Evetta for more than 1,000 vehicles.

Electric Lego-type car is a concept for the future

The Xbus electric car is quite unique given that more than ten modular and interchangeable bodies can be fitted onto two chassis variants.

Large investments

To make VDL Nedcar ready for the new activities, modifications to the factory in Born are necessary. This will involve investments running into the hundreds of millions of euros. The infrastructure in the surrounding area will also require modifications. The completion of the current contract with BMW Group and the start-up of the other activities will be accompanied by fluctuations in the workforce.