Executive Speeches
20 March 2009
Remarks at the Volkswagen Group of America Philanthropic Announcement -
Chattanooga, Tennessee
Stefan Jacoby,President & CEO, Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
Stefan Jacoby Remarks
Thank you, Governor Bredesen.
I'm so glad you could be here. It is also great to see my friends, Dr. Neumann and Frank Fischer. This is truly a joyous occasion.
We know Volkswagen has a bright future here.
We all know these are tough times for car companies.
We have done better than our competitors, but we are not immune to economic realities.
Our strategy is simple: We want to turn challenges into opportunities.
We will do that by taking a long term view. The economy will rebound, and when it does, we will be ready for takeoff.
Our new production facility in Chattanooga is a one billion dollar investment in the future.
That's how confident we are in the American economy.
That's how confident we are in Volkswagen's future in this country.
We also have great confidence in the leadership at this plant.
Frank Fischer and his team are an integral part of our company's strategic goals in this country.
We're making a long term commitment to this community, this state and this country.
Our commitment is reflected the announcement you just heard. We all know that our children are our future.
Their future depends on a good education.
That's why the Volkswagen Group of American believes so strongly in supporting education.
We have already made a significant contribution to education in Virginia, our corporate home.
Today we're making a significant commitment to education in our new home.
Our approach to education mirrors our approach to sustainable mobility.
We look at the big picture, not just the individual components.
We think long-term. We take a holistic approach.
For cars, that means we think about our impact on the environment during every stage of a car's lifespan….
From the manufacturing process, to its performance on the road…to its final trip to the recycling facility.
Every step along the way can influence later events.
The same is true with education.
If we help train teachers, they will help train students.
If we help students in grade school, they will do better in high school.
If they help them in high school, they will do better in college.
When we announced our decision to come here last July, I told you that our choice was determined by our hearts as well as our heads.
It just felt right. I am more convinced than ever that we made the right decision.
Today's announcement is another decision governed by our hearts and our heads.
Promoting education is the right thing to do. It's also the smart thing to do.
We want to help the young people of this region achieve their full potential.
Our collective future — yours, ours, and most importantly, our children's — depends on it.
I will turn it back to Frank now for some closing comments.
