Chattanooga has been celebrating for nearly three years the fact that Volkswagen is investing a billion dollars in Chattanooga - and hiring thousands of people - to build many thousands of excellent cars.
Still, it was something special when the very first "Chattanooga Volkswagen" rolled off the local production line Monday!
That No. 1 VW, a dark blue Passat SEL, will be followed by many other fine VWs.
Frank Fischer, who heads the Chattanooga Volkswagen plant, and VW's local employees had much to celebrate. So do all other Chattanoogans.
All of our people have an enormous stake in assuring that Volkswagen is a great success.
VW is a communitywide project that will benefit us all.
We fervently hope - and expect - that our locally produced Volkswagens will be well received throughout the United States and in other parts of North America, too.
Congratulations, VW, and all of its employees! Congratulations to all other Chattanoogans as well!