Japanese car manufacturer Mitsubishi Motors will end production at its European plants before 2013, including the NedCar plant in the Dutch town of Born.
A Mitsubishi spokesperson said on Monday that the “unfavourable business climate” had forced the company to make this decision. NedCar, the Netherland’s biggest car factory, currently produces the Mitsubishi Colt. NedCar announced earlier that Director Joost Govaarts would explain the situation to the plant’s 1,500 workers on Monday.
Mitsubishi had already postponed its decision on the future of NedCar several times, much to the displeasure of the trade unions and of workers facing an uncertain future. As a result, disgruntled workers downed tools several times last year.
Gate blocked
The unions are furious about the closure of the plant. They say that a gentlemen’s agreement had been reached with Mitsubishi and the NedCar management to safeguard the maximum level of employment at the Born factory.
Trade union federation CNV Vakmensen said six months’ worth of negotiations and a joint quest for solutions had led to nothing. The federation said the decision to close the plant was particularly galling because a serious candidate had been found that wanted to start production at the Born plant in 2015.
CNV Vakmensen expects the workers will decide to down tools to put pressure on Mitsubishi Motors. Workers have already blocked the gate and nobody can enter or leave the site.
Out of Europe
Economic Affairs Minister Maxime Verhagen announced he would try to find candidates for a takeover of the factory. Parliament says it wants to hold confidential talks with the cabinet, provincial authorities and the NedCar works council.
Mitsubishi is the first major Japanese car manufacturer to pull out of Europe.
(gsh/imm)
© Radio Netherlands Worldwide
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R.I.P Nedcar plant, a factory made famous for all the simply brilliant Belt Drive cars that were lovingly assembled there. A shame indeed to see this great plant close, possibly for good....
Too bad that it's happening.Key industries should not be closed down.
This is not unique to the Netherlands. This is happening all over Europe and was happening all over North America. There is dramatic over supply in the cars marketplace and capacity needs to be cut.
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