Executive Speeches
14 May 2009
Remarks by Frank Fischer, Chairman and CEO of Volkswagen Group of America Chattanooga Operations, LLC. and Stefan Jacoby, President and CEO of Volkswagen Group of America.
Chattanooga Production Facility Wall Raising Ceremony
Fischer: Dr. Heizmann, thank you for those remarks and your support of this project.
We look forward to having you back in Chattanooga often!
As the head of Volkswagen Group of America, my colleague and friend Stefan Jacoby is managing the company through this difficult time here in the U.S.
I’d like to invite him to join me to discuss the U.S. market and the steps Volkswagen is taking here to weather the current downturn.
Stefan, let’s start with the good news….VW brand has increased its market share by 30 percent in the U.S. These are tough economic times, how are you doing it?
Stefan: Frank, we’re doing it by not taking our foot off the accelerator here in the U.S. We’re making fuel efficient, fun to drive, high quality vehicles at a time when U.S. consumers are more conscious than ever about their pocketbooks.
A few weeks ago at the New York Auto Show, I used the word momentum to describe this company. It’s an appropriate term. We launched five new vehicles last year, and this year we’ve got several key new models, including our new clean diesel Touareg TDI and the all-new sixth generation Golf and GTI. Our Golf was recently named World Car of the Year and also will be offered with our clean diesel.
But a company isn’t just successful because of its products. People matter too, and we are fortunate to have an exceptional dealer network. These folks are on the front line everyday working with our customers and I want to thank them for moving full speed ahead in this tough economy.
Speaking of not taking your foot off the accelerator, Frank, it’s clear you are working at a breakneck speed on the new Chattanooga plant.
Fischer: That is true. To put it in perspective, for the paint shop alone, we have poured enough concrete to fill almost two Olympic-size swimming pools. And, the amount of steel that we’ve erected is the same as 380 VW Beetles!
Stefan: Frank, it’s not just the progress that’s impressive, it’s also the company’s commitment to the environment.
Fischer: Absolutely, I hope everyone will take a minute or two to look at the exhibits around the reception area. They explain what we’ll be doing here in Chattanooga to make sure our plant has the most minimal impact on the environment. We will look at all ways to be environmentally friendly, from electricity savings to recycling of materials, air and water.
Environmentally friendly also means to set it up as a lean plant. Not just in technology, but also in terms of organization in order to achieve high quality and productivity standards.
And by the way, last Sunday, I had the chance to take a short ride through the City of Chattanooga. It is really inspiring to see and to understand how this city has changed over the past twenty years. From the “most polluted” to “among the cleanest” cities in the United States. For this remarkable change there were long term decisions necessary. Congratulations to such a wonderful city.
We’re also giving back. As you know, we’re working with the city and state to replace trees that had once been on this site. As a symbolic gesture of our commitment, today we are donating all the trees you will see in the reception to the city for planting.
But, Stefan, manufacturing is just one part of the equation. Earlier, you mentioned our clean diesel technology. About 30 percent of the vehicles we produce here will be clean diesel.
Stefan: Just as an example our clean diesel Jetta TDI is setting world mileage records. During a 48-state trek last year, it averaged more than 58 miles per gallon.
Fischer: I know the Jetta TDI hit a Guiness Book World Record for that drive. Looking out at this crowd, I’m wondering if we set a world record for attendance at a wall raising event? That might be a record I’d like to set. But longest wall raising program ever is not an award I’d like to be given.
So, without further delay, I’d like to ask Governor Bredesen to be the first to sign our wall. Ambassador Scharioth, Dr. Heizmann and Stefan please also join in the signing ceremony.
And now, I’d like to invite the Mayors, Commissioners Kisber and Farr and state legislators to join me as we pull the lever and raise the first wall.
