Press Releases
05 October 2009
New Volkswagen plant in USA fully on schedule
Lower Saxony's Prime Minister Wulff from Germany visits Volkswagen in Chattanooga, TN
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| In front of a model of the new Chattanooga plant (l.t.r.) Professor Dr. Jochem Heizmann, Board member Volkswagen AG for production, Christian Wulff, Primeminister Lower Saxony, Phil Bredesen, Governor of Tennessee, Frank Fischer, CEO and Chairman VWGoA Chattanooga Operations LLC, Hans-Dieter Poetsch, Board member Volkswagen AG for finance and controlling discuss progress of the project |
Wolfsburg/Chattanooga,Tennessee — During his one-week trip to the USA, Lower Saxony's Prime Minister Christian Wulff visited Volkswagen of America at the Chattanooga site accompanied by an industry delegation. The guests used the opportunity to find out more about the status of work on the new Volkswagen factory in the State of Tennessee and joined Governor Phil Bredesen to meet more than 100 regional representatives and business leaders.
"The United States is one of the most important markets of the future for the Volkswagen Group. Our goal is to participate in the anticipated recovery on the US auto market and to achieve significant growth," Professor Dr. Jochem Heizmann, Member of the Board of Volkswagen AG with responsibility for 'Group Production', explained. "We are creating the framework for this by building our new plant in Chattanooga, a core element of our strategy in the North America region," Heizmann emphasized and added: "Our highly attractive and environmentally friendly range of vehicles forms the basis of our present achievements – worldwide and in the USA. Our technology leadership combined with local production are the pillars for a successful future for the Volkswagen Group in the USA."
"A presence on international markets is a prerequisite for economic success," Wulff commented during a tour of the site. He added that this had again proved particularly true during the present crisis period. As a global company the Volkswagen Group was currently setting standards for successful partnerships worldwide. Summing up his impressions for the 50-strong delegation, Wulff said: "For me, Volkswagen's new plant in Chattanooga is an excellent example of the dynamic and successful internationalization of Lower Saxony's industry."
" I want to thank Minister President Wulff for taking the time out of his busy schedule to visit Chattanooga, said Governor Phil Bredeson. "Myself and Mayors Littlefield and Ramsey as well as all our elected officials and civic leaders are committed to making this the very best working relationship."
The Volkswagen Group celebrated the erection of the first wall of the Chattanooga factory in May 2009. By the end of this year, all buildings on the approximately 5.6 square kilometer site including the body shop, paint shop and assembly halls will have been completed. Work on the interior of the halls will begin in the first half of 2010. The local team presently comprises some 150 people, one third of them international experts including specialists from Germany. From 2011, more than 2,000 employees will be working for Volkswagen in Chattanooga.
"The Volkswagen brand can look back on a long tradition in the USA. The beginning of construction work on our new plant in Chattanooga marks a new chapter in our joint history," Plant Manager Frank Fischer said. "We are fully on schedule with the plant and believe in our lasting success on the American market. Our strong products and a great team are the best arguments."
The Chattanooga, Tennessee, factory is an important element in the Volkswagen Group's growth strategy. The objective is to triple the number of Volkswagen brand vehicles sold in the United States to 800,000 by 2018. From 2011, the state-of-the-art, one-billion dollar plant in Chattanooga will commence production of a model developed specially for the North American market. The plant is designed for an annual capacity of 150,000 vehicles.
About Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Volkswagen AG, the world's fourth largest automaker and the largest carmaker in Europe. It houses the U.S. operations of a worldwide family of distinguished and exciting brands including Audi, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini and Volkswagen, as well as VW Credit, Inc. Founded in 1955, the company's headquarters are in Herndon, Va.
Volkswagen Group of America brings to the U.S. vehicles that marry the science of engineering and the art of styling, with the goal of offering attractive, safe, and environmentally sound automobiles that are competitive and set world standards in their respective classes.
The company has approximately 2,500 employees in the United States and sells its vehicles through an 800-strong dealer network. With increasing popularity for its brands in the U.S., the company has set the goal of reaching one million car sales in the country by 2018. For more information, visit www.volkswagengroupamerica.com.
About Volkswagen of America, Inc.
Volkswagen of America, Inc. is the brand organization of the Volkswagen Group of America that markets Volkswagen vehicles in the U.S. The company recently announced Electronic Stability Program (ESP) as standard equipment on all its 2009 vehicles. As a result, Volkswagen is one of the only original equipment manufacturers to offer an electronic stability control system on their entire product line – ahead of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA) deadline requiring vehicles in the 2012 model year to include stability control systems. Volkswagen's ESP technology works in conjunction with anti-lock brakes and helps reduce loss of control and rollovers to avoid crashes. NHTSA predicts nearly 10,000 lives could be saved each year if automakers included stability systems as standard equipment.
Founded in 1955, Volkswagen of America, Inc. is headquartered in Herndon, Va. It is a subsidiary of Volkswagen AG, headquartered in Wolfsburg, Germany. Volkswagen is one of the world's largest producers of passenger cars and Europe's largest automaker. Volkswagen sells the Golf, New Beetle, New Beetle convertible, GTI, Jetta, GLI, Jetta Sportwagen, Passat, Passat Sportwagen, Eos, Tiguan and Touareg through approximately 600 independent U.S. dealers. Visit Volkswagen of America online at www.vw.com.
