>>> Please visit www.automotive-industry.nl for a database of companies in the Dutch automotive industry

The automotive industry in the Netherlands employs about 38.000 people divided over OEM’s, suppliers and other automotive companies. The main drivers of the economy of the Netherlands are sectors like transport/logistics, trading and services. “Manufacturing” industries are less dominant in the Netherlands than in other European countries. Within the “manufacturing” industries, the automotive is one of the main industries.

Moreover the automotive industry is concentrated in the south/eastern part of the Netherlands (over 50% of the Dutch automotive employment is to be found here) and also the mid-eastern part of the Netherlands is home for many automotive companies. For those regions, automotive is an important industry for employment and innovation.

The automotive industry in the Netherlands is part of a broader automotive region including Belgium/Flanders and the North Rhine Westphalia (Germany). For future development this cross-border region and especially the triangle Leuven-Aachen-Eindhoven will become of major importance for innovation.

Over the last few years employment rates at automotive suppliers increased strongly with about 20% since 1997 due to the strong development and growth of the sector. In general the supply industry is highly internationalised, with the majority of purchase coming from abroad, with high export percentages and with international partnerships for development. Of the total automotive sales figure in the Netherlands approximately 90% is exported. Most important export area is Germany, followed by France and Belgium.

Apart from the successful individual companies, the sector also has several technology sub-clusters like:

• New and lightweight materials
• Transmissions;
• Alternative fuels;
• Engines  / Powertrain
  
  

>>> For more information about the Dutch automotive industry please visit www.automotive-industry.nl.