Volkswagen Breaks Ground on Tennessee Production Facility

Volkswagen recently started construction of its new electric-vehicle (EV) production facility in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The plant, which will be Volkswagen's North American assembly base for electric vehicles, is expected to begin production in 2022.

“This is a big, big moment for this company,” said Scott Keogh, president and CEO of Volkswagen Group of America. “Expanding local production sets the foundation for our sustainable growth in the U.S.  Electric vehicles are the future of mobility, and Volkswagen will build them for millions, not just millionaires."

Volkswagen’s investment of nearly $800 million in the Chattanooga facility will require the addition of approximately 1,000 jobs. The expansion of the plant includes a 564,000-square-foot addition to the body shop. Both internal-combustion-engine vehicles as well as battery-electric vehicles will be built on the same assembly line.

The company also announced it intends to construct a 198,000-square-foot plant for the assembly of battery packs for EVs at the Chattanooga site. Hiring for the new assembly will begin in early 2020. Positions added for the expansion include supervisors, specialists and a variety of engineers specializing in electrical, software, mechanical, manufacturing, chemical and quality.

“Electric vehicle and electric-vehicle battery production require new and different technical skills than those we currently use,” said Tom du Plessis, Volkswagen Chattanooga CEO. “We're working with our colleagues abroad, as well as with the Volkswagen Academy, to ensure our team members are well-prepared.”

Volkswagen currently builds the midsized Atlas SUV and the Passat sedan at the Chattanooga factory. A five-seat version of the Atlas, the Atlas Cross Sport, began production in Chattanooga in October.

For more information, visit www.vw.com.