Founded in 1967 as Van
Doorn’s Automobiel Fabriek (DAF) the facility built Daf passenger cars, noted
for their belt transmission – Daf 33, 44, 55, and 66. Van Doorne also developed
a continuously variable transmission (CVT).
Production continued after
its takeover by Volvo in 1972 (with the Volvo 340/360, 440/460 and S40/V40),
but in August 1991 a joint venture was established between the Dutch government,
Volvo and Mitsubishi Motors Corporation of Tokyo, Japan.
Not until 1999 did the name
change from Volvo Car BV to Netherlands Car BV or NedCar BV. In 2001, the
business became 100 per cent owned by Mitsubishi Motors. Production since then has
included Carisma and Colt, Space Star and Outlander. But last year, Mitsubishi
announced it would shutter production of the Colt (which it has made since
2004) and Outlander (made since 2008) at the end of the year, when Dutch bus
and coach building group VDL Greop declared it would take over the plant for a
nominal sum. The plant produced its millionth vehicle on 4 October 2000.
