ROMSO Cyprus Knowledge Base

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V.N. Automóveis (also VN Automóveis) was an automotive and commercial vehicle manufacturer based in Vendas Novas, Portugal.

History
V.N. Automóveis emerged from the assembly operation of Francisco Batista Russo & Irmão, which became VN Montagem e Reparação de Automóveis Batista Russo, Lda. after its insolvency in 1995. In 2000, vehicles of the brand UMM were manufactured.

After moving to another group of companies, V.N. Automóveis became a public limited company. In 2006, V.N. Automóveis began assembling Isuzu vehicles. In addition to the assembly and conversion of the vehicles, the assembly of automotive components was another business field.

In 2011, the turnover amounted to 2,832,750 euros.

At times, V.N. Automóveis is said to have had around 500 employees. In 2011 and 2012, the workforce was reduced from 127 to 99 employees.
A year later, Isuzu announced a relocation of assembly to Italy. Against this background, V.N. Automóveis laid off 33 of around 80 remaining workers.

The N series and the new F series were produced. V.N. Automóveis received an honourable mention for their high-strength steel superstructures at the Swedish Steel Prize 2005.

In July 2015, insolvency proceedings were opened for the company.

Production
Production figures between 2006 and 2012 fluctuated strongly.
Of the units produced in 2008, 2,671 were exported.

V.N. Automóveis was at times the smallest car plant in Portugal. the second smallest, ahead of Toyota Caetano Portugal, with a share in domestic production of 0,7 % (2011) and 0,9 % (January to November 2013). More than half of the production went to the UK, while the rest was distributed to Spain, Portugal, Belgium and Cyprus, but also Germany. A production of the passenger car model D-Max cannot be proven (despite corresponding illustration of a source).

Literature

Individual evidence

Isuzu
Former car manufacturer (Portugal)
Former truck manufacturer
Vendas Novas
Founded in 1995
Discontinued 2015