BMW Group May Buy Honda UK Plant to Build BMWs and MINIs
According to Autocar BMW is looking to potentially buy the UK Honda plant scheduled close in 2021. BMW is looking to take advantage of the facility and experienced workforce to build small crossovers like the X1 and Countryman.
The re-alignment of production could mean an end to Nedcar’s contract production for MINI and BMW in the Netherlands. That production had previously helped MINI move Countryman production from Austria from a previous production partner.
<p>Glad you picked this up, Gabriel. The suggestion that BMW Group would end production at VDL Nedcar is unrealistic, and not even suggested in Hilton Holloway’s rumour piece. This is about the streamlining of platform productions and aligning them with projected demand trendlines in specific geographies. As regards the pre-emptive acquisition of the South Marston site, the best way to understand what might happen is to check which other non-UK OEMs have expressed interest to acquire it from Honda, and also look at the severe constraints BMW faces at its Bridge End pressings site just a mile down the road. :-)</p>