VDL NedCar converted into drone factory
According to Minister Brekelmans, the collaboration with VDL will be “the flagship of the collaboration between Defense and businesses”.
Published on March 21, 2025
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VDL, in collaboration with the Ministry of Defense, will use the facilities at NedCar in Born for defense production. This will enable innovative Dutch companies to scale up. Minister Ruben Brekelmans and CEO Willem van der Leegte announced this today at VDL Groep in Eindhoven.
For the security of the Netherlands and its allies, the armed forces must be strengthened rapidly. To that end, the Ministry of Defense needs more of everything: from combat vehicles to drones, from traditional equipment to high-tech systems. The Netherlands will also have to contribute more to military production. In addition, there is a need for more security, shorter delivery times and less dependence on countries outside of Europe. Therefore, the Ministry of Defense has called on companies to use their capacities and facilities for our security wherever possible.
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Minister Brekelmans: “We are grateful that VDL will answer our call. I am delighted that the Ministry of Defense is partnering with VDL. This will be the flagship of the renewed collaboration between the Ministry of Defense and businesses.” Many businesses and the Ministry of Defense have knowledge of specific equipment and weapon systems. VDL has the expertise, capacity, and infrastructure to produce on a large scale.
Support from the Ministry of Defense
The Ministry of Defense wants to support VDL in various ways in setting up defense production, starting at the location in Born. This begins with renting production facilities. The Ministry of Defense can also help find companies that can work with VDL to scale up production and bring together the demand from various countries so that the orders are large enough to start production at VDL.
This collaboration contributes to security and economic growth. It immediately creates more jobs in Limburg, where thousands recently disappeared due to the closure of the VDL Nedcar car factory.
Brekelmans: “It is a win-win situation in every respect. It is a win for the Ministry of Defense, a win for VDL, a win for our security, and a win for our economy. This new flagship shows that we, as the Ministry of Defense, want to work more intensively with companies. We desperately need our entrepreneurs, industry and knowledge institutions to ensure that we remain safe, now and in the future.”
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Responsibility
Willem van der Leegte, president and CEO of VDL Groep: “The uncertain geopolitical developments underline the importance of a strong European - but certainly also Dutch - defense industry. The Ministry of Defense calls on us, and we are taking responsibility. With over 100 development and manufacturing companies, we have the relevant competencies to scale up an industry: industrialization, product development, automation, and assembly. Moreover, we have a location in Born with enough space, where a lack of power is not an issue and where there is plenty of knowledge of high-quality assembly.” According to Van der Leegte, VDL will determine a production focus later. “We will offer support where the Ministry of Defense has a need, and the demand matches our competencies or those of our partners.”