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The Nedcar plant, in the Dutch province of Limburg, is celebrating its 40th birthday - you might remember it from such cars as the first-generation Volvo S40 and Mitsubishi Carisma.
The plant was dedicated in 1968 by Juliana, Queen of the Netherlands, to accommodate the growing needs of the Dutch carmaker DAF.
It became a joint venture operation called NedCar - or Netherlands Car BV - when the Dutch state, Mitsubishi Motors Corporation and Volvo Car Corporation teamed up in August 1991.
In February 1999, the Dutch authorities transferred their shares to the two other partners, ending with a 50/50 split.
Nedcar was the plant that produced the European Mitsubishi Colt and ill-fated Smart Forfour. It has been a 100 per cent Mitsubishi Motors subsidiary since March, and will soon be making Outlanders for the European market.
